IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473
and
An Application by FortisBC Inc.
for Registration as Responsible Entities for certain functions required for compliance with
Mandatory Reliability Standards
BEFORE: D.A. Cote, Commissioner
L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner May 27, 2010
O R D E R
WHEREAS:
A. Order G-123-09 approved the Registration Manual for entities subject to adopted Mandatory Reliability Standards and required that Entities subject to the standards register with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) by December 31, 2009; and
B. The Registration Manual requires that the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) in its role as the Mandatory Reliability Standards Administrator review and recommend registration for all applicable Entities and allows 21 days for Entities to comment to the Commission on the WECC’s recommendations; and
C. On January 14, 2010 the WECC recommended to the Commission that the Commission approve FortisBC Inc.’s (FortisBC) registration for the functions of: Transmission Operator, Transmission Planner, Transmission Service Provider, Transmission Owner, Resource Planner, Distribution Provider, Generator Owner, Generator Operator, Load Serving Entity, and Purchasing-Selling Entity, noting that registration for the Resource Planner function and the Transmission Service Provider function were disputed by FortisBC; and
D. On February 4, 2010 FortisBC provided a letter to the Commission disputing the WECC’s recommendations regarding the Transmission Service Provider functions arguing that although they met the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) definition for this function, they did not perform any of the activities associated with this function. FortisBC agreed that the Resource Planner function was appropriate. By letter to the WECC of February 16, 2010 the Commission requested comments regarding FortisBC’s objections; and
E. On April 26, 2010 the WECC provided comments to the Commission noting that the Commission had two options to pursue regarding the Transmission Service Provider, suggesting that as it is required for US jurisdictional entities, FortisBC register for the Transmission Service Provider function but when self certifying FortisBC may indicate that the requirements under this function are not applicable. Alternately, the Commission could require FortisBC to register when the function becomes applicable; and
F. The Commission concludes that the first option will provide more consistency and completeness in the Registration process.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 125.2 of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission orders as follows:
1. In addition to those functions approved by Order G-29-10, FortisBC is required to register for the functions of Resource Planner and Transmission Service Provider.
2. FortisBC may indicate in its self certification that certain requirements under the function of Transmission Service Provider are not applicable.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 28th day of May 2010.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
D.A. Cote
Commissioner