LETTER NO. L-22-94 SIXTH FLOOR. 900 HOWE STREET. BOX 250 VANCOUVER. B.C. CANADA V6Z 2N3 TELEPHONE: (604) 660-4700 ROBERT J. PELLATT Be TOLL FREE: 1-800-663-1385 COMMISSION SECRETARY FACSIMILE: (604) 660-1102 August 4, 1994 Mr. Roger Emanuels 16271 Glenwood Crescent S. North Surrey, B.C. V4N 1W9 Dear Dr. Emanuels: Re: British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority ("B.e. Hydro") Complaint - Subdivision Development at 108th Street and 164th A venue, Surrey For your information, we attach herewith the July 26, 1994 response from B.C. Hydro to the questions raised in your letter to the Commission dated June 30, 1994. In B.C. Hydro's response, the utility has explained the rationale for the specific distribution planning initiatives in your area, and has attempted to clarify the issues raised in your letter. After carefully reviewing B.c. Hydro's July 26, 1994 letter, the Commission is of the view that the utility's planning decisions in this case were technically sound and consistent with the utility's filed tariffs and established policies. The Commission also believes that B.C. Hydro's policies regarding system reinforcement should be publicly reviewed, and accordingly has initiated steps to have this matter discussed at the utility's upcoming Rate Application Hearing, which is scheduled to commence on September 12, 1994. Regarding the specific questions raised in your June 24, 1994 letter, the Commission accepts the explanations provided by B.C. Hydro and therefore does not intend to pursue this matter further. Yours tru~~ onstance M. Smith for: Robert J. Pellatt NCJS/mmc Attch. cc: Mr. Thorn. M. Thompson, Vice President Corporate and Aboriginal Affairs British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority COMPLAINTSIBCH/Cor/Rogcr Emanucls
BChydro In UJ Thom i\l. Thompson Vic.:t:·Presldenr Corporate & Aboriginal Affairs 26 July 1994 Mr. Robert J. Pellatt Commission Secretary British Columbia Utilities Commission Box 250 600 • 900 Howe Street Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2N3 Dear Mr. Pellatt: Rc: British Columbia Hydro and Power ADtholity CompiaiD1 of Dr. EJ. Emanuds Subdivision at 108th Avenue and 164th Street, S!1IJ'CY, B.C. This letter is in response to your request for clarification on seven items Dr. E.J. Emanuels raised in his letter dated 30 June 1994 to the British Columbia Utilities Commission. As a general comment, when planning for a service area, consideration must be given to the total development area. and the requirements for existing and future customers 'Within that area. This planning determines the extent, economics and timing of the facilities installed. Load growth occurs based on individual customer additions. whether a single or multiple customer (ie. subdivider). B.C. Hydro must respond to the immediate needs of the specific customer while ensuring the installation will meet longer term requirements of the service area. "Reinforcement" is only applied where the system to be installed is significantly beyond the needs of the specific customer mvo'.ved. TIlls project was an extension of the electrical infrastructure v."ithin the service area. In the case of Dr. Emanuels. a "System Reinforcement .Allowance" was provided to cover the difference between a single and three phase OiH supply as covered in earlier correspondence. I B.C.JTILlTI::S cm,H\1ISSIOi"J I RiCEIVED & ACKNOWLEDGED: I JUL 2 6 4B~4 /l ~F"U !1) , n, r i',::'. 1_ •• '- .... r ~UI( '.. r:J -t, FOR RESOURCE riOO;,' INro. ,0 BE FILED
'J t: L UC - 2 In the particular case of Dr. EJ. Emanuels' subdivision, the reqUIrement for a three phase system was based on the following: • A three ph~lSe line on 164th Street was required to serve the entire subdivision area and create a loop feed. Within this loop feed (from which Dr. Emanuels' is served) there are several customers that require a three phase supply such as Fraserwood Elementary School. .. The three phase system is required to provide capacity, reliability, and load balance. Specifically, single phase loads can be switched within the three phase system as the load in the area dictates. In essence, this distributes the load for that area amongst all three phases. In summary, the three phase system was installed in order to reliably meet the needs of all customers in the area. It was pointed out in our letter dated 30 May 1994 to the Commission~ that Dr. Emanuels has gained the benefits paid for by other subdividers in the area to bring the three phase electrical service to the point where it can now supply his subdivision. The loop for that area necessitated completion as a three phase service in order to avoid much greater costs in the future in converting the single phase service into that of a three phase service. The following are responses to Dr. EJ. Emanuels' seven questions outlined in his letter to the Commission dated 30 June 1994: 1) The three phase system installed is a legitimate system extension that will benefit all of the customers that it supplies in the neighbourhood of Dr. EJ. Emanuels' subdivision. 2) TIlls extension could not have been provided utilizing the existing overhead lines on 168th Street as the service supply point ..vas from 164th. 3) A single phase line along this alignment would not have provided adequate capacity or reliability for the general supply area. We do not believe that it would have been the appropriate engineering or planning decision. A three phase system was installed for the reasons provided above . .!) Three phase power was not extended to the nonh along 164th Street because of insufficient future plans for development in that area. 5) B.C. Hydro does have ensting s'Witching equipment to fe-route power supply between the exisung three phase circuits on l08th Avenue and l04tb Avenue. ..J3
6) The three phase circuits on l08th Avenue, and l04th Avenue arc connected to the S<lme substation circuit. In the event that this circuit is lost. 104th Avenue anrt lOXtll Avenue would be supplied by another circuit in the B.C. Hydro power gnd ~rem trom the opposite direction. Mure imr-onanIly. we now bave the standard cap~bll1ty to switch wi$n the iUl1Ht:oiate ~Vlce area [Q re-fOute power due to faults 1n the area. This type of an uutage ~ much more likely than a full feeder onrage. 7) The three phose system installed on l08th Aveuue last. December supplies power to a portion of the subject area. The three pba.sc system leQulleu upgrading along 108th Street this yeolr to meet the ongoing load growth in the area. I hope that the above explanation answers Dr. Emanuek' questions. Should you require any fnnher spectfic mtormation on this development. Mr. Doug Bryson. Lower Mainland Southlfraser Valley Regional Mana~er at .543-6001 would be pleased to assist. Yours trUlY. ,.....--,. .,,---.---.. /1C~~/~~ ./ I~-R... /. Thom M. Thompson L/ Vice-President C:orporare and Aboriginal Affairs c: RJ. TIln:lk.du D.C. DIj"SOll
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