IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473
and
Mandatory Reliability Standards
Role of Regional Reliability Organization in British Columbia
BEFORE: A. A. Rhodes, Commissioner
L. A. O’Hara, Commissioner November 10, 2010
O R D E R
WHEREAS:
A. British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) Order G-123-09 approved the Rules of Procedure setting out the administrative framework for Entities subject to Mandatory Reliability Standards and appointed the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) as the Commission’s administrator to assist the Commission in carrying out its functions in a manner described by the Administration Agreement appended as attachment 2 to that order;
B. Section 1 – Scope of Authority of the Administration Agreement states: “Nothing in this Agreement reduces WECC’s own authority as the Regional Reliability Organization [RRO], Reliability Coordinator, and Interchange Authority for the Western Interconnection or imposes any restrictions on WECC activities or operations in the United States of America, Mexico and Alberta;”
C. On July 12, 2010, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority wrote to the Commission seeking clarification on who was acting as the RRO for BC;
D. On August 5, 2010, the Commission replied stating that the Commission met the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) definition of the RRO but that reports which various standards require to be sent to the RRO should be sent to WECC as the Commission’s administrator;
E. The Commission has reconsidered this response and finds that it does not fully address the issue of the role of the RRO in BC;
F. Pursuant to section 125.2 of the Utilities Commission Act (the Act), the Commission has responsibility for various electric system reliability matters in British Columbia and makes orders adopting reliability standards and providing for the administration of adopted reliability standards in British Columbia;
G. The Commission recognizes that WECC performs a function as RRO for purposes of reliability standards for the Western Interconnection and has determined that WECC should serve as Regional Reliability Organization for British Columbia reliability standards.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 125.2 of the Act, the Commission orders as follows:
The Commission orders that, for the purposes of the reliability standards adopted in British Columbia, the WECC will serve as Regional Reliability Organization. Responsible Entities as defined in the Rules of Procedure for Reliability Standards in British Columbia shall recognize and respond to WECC as the Regional Reliability Organization for purposes of the adopted British Columbia reliability standards, unless otherwise ordered by the Commission.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 10th day of November 2010.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
A. A. Rhodes
Commissioner