A deeper look into the upcoming BPA.gov website changes

Ordering groceries online, tracking a package delivery status and making payments from your smart phone are essential these days. Technology has transformed business transactions by empowering users with direct access to information and services when they need it. BPA customers will soon experience a more modern way to conduct business online, too.

The Agency Enterprise Portal project is one of BPA's 35 grid modernization projects designed to increase automation, improve accuracy and enhance visibility of the region's power and transmission systems. The project's aim is to modernize BPA's online public and customer experience by delivering a supportable, flexible digital platform. It will host BPA-produced content, provide secure access to customer-specific information, and allow customer-BPA information exchanges to administer BPA products and services for both Power and Transmission Services.

'The AEP project will transform our customers' experience doing business with us digitally, providing features and functionality that are necessary in the digital age,' said Tina Ko, vice president for Transmission Marketing and Sales, and executive sponsor for the project.

Scheduled to be rolled out by fall of 2021, phase 1of the project will deliver a seamless experience across the bpa.gov website, making it easier for customers and the public to find what they need. It will let customers access their information and conduct online transactions securely, even from a smart phone.

Similar to degradation in reliability of aging transmission infrastructure, even websites and software applications become obsolete and often can no longer be supported. Customers will still be able to access meter data and load forecasts as they do today but with the added benefit of a portal that will be more intuitive and support self-service capabilities missing today. When the phase 1 of the AEP project is complete, it will be replacing the existing public website (bpa.gov) and the existing customer portal, which will gradually be phased out.

Once the new infrastructure is in place, the project focus will turn to phase 2- expanding the website's functionality even more by giving customers access to additional data and models, supporting and automating customer-specific workflows, and enabling customers to initiate different types of transactions. Forexample, customers may be able to access billing dispute resolution status, on-demand transmission study and project status updates, and fee information. These additional capabilities are key to meeting customers' needs efficiently and responsively.

The AEP project team is in the process of prioritizing enhancements for phase two. Customers can expect more details on features, timelines, and the continuation of our efforts in the coming months.

If BPA decides to participate in the EIM, the ability to retrieve the data behind those bills will be shared via this platform and be in place before formal training in January 2022.

AEP is one of several grid modernization projects that support the implementation of BPA's strategic goals to modernize federal power and transmission system operations and supporting technology, and to provide competitive power and transmission products and services. To learn more about the portfolio of projects or to see all that's happening with grid modernization, click here.
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