Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473

and

An Application by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the

Dawson Creek/Chetwynd Area Transmission Project

BEFORE:               L.A. O’Hara, Commissioner                                          July 26, 2011

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.    On July 11, 2011, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) applied (the Application) pursuant to subsection 46(1) of the Utilities Commission Act (the Act) to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (the Commission) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to construct and operate the Dawson Creek/Chetwynd Area Transmission Project (the Project) as described in the Application;

B.    The Project is located in the Dawson Creek/Chetwynd area of north east British Columbia.  The Application states that reinforcement of the transmission capacity in this area is needed to enhance the quality of service to existing customers and to meet increasing customer load.  The Project is BC Hydro’s preferred alternative to meet the area’s forecasted load growth;

C.    The Project consists of three main components:

(i)      The construction of the new Sundance Substation (SLS) including the acquisition of 8.5 hectares of land.

(ii)    The construction of a double circuit 230 kV transmission line on steel monopoles for 60 km from SLS to Bear Mountain Terminal (BMT) and for 12 km from BMT to Dawson Creek Substation (DAW).  A new 33 metre right-of-way is required for the route; in portions where the route parallels existing transmission lines, the required additional width may be less.

(iii)   The expansion of BMT including the acquisition of approximately 14 hectares of land;

D.    The Project’s expected cost is $219.1 million and the authorized amount is $254.6 million.  The expected in-service date is October 2013.

E.    The Project is Phase 1 of what BC Hydro anticipates will be a two phase program to reinforce the transmission system in the Dawson Creek/Chetwynd area;

F.    In the Application BC Hydro also requests approval of a revision to Section 8.3 of the Terms and Conditions of its Electric Tariff to provide security for the cost of transmission system reinforcements by distribution voltage customers requesting new service in excess of 10 MW;

G.   BC Hydro held a Workshop on the Application on July 20, 2011 in Vancouver, BC;

H.    The Commission has determined that an Initial Regulatory Timetable and Procedural Conference should be established for the review of the Application.

NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:

1.       The Initial Regulatory Timetable for the review of the Application is established as set out in Appendix A to this Order.

2.       A Procedural Conference regarding the further regulatory process for the review of the Application will be held on September 22, 2011 commencing at 9:00 a.m. in the Commission’s Hearing Room on the 12^th Floor, 1125 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, following which the Commission will issue a further procedural order and regulatory timetable for the review of the Application.

3.       BC Hydro will publish, as soon as possible, in display ad format, the Notice attached as Appendix B to this Order in the Vancouver Sun and Province and Victoria Times Colonist newspapers, and such local papers in the vicinity of the Dawson Creek and Chetwynd that will provide proper notice to the public that may be impacted by the Project.

4.       BC Hydro will provide a copy of this Order to the First Nations considered to be relevant for inclusion in the consultation activities on the Project through their Chief and Council contacts.

5.       BC Hydro will provide a copy of this Order to all parties who have intervened in its F2012/F2014 Revenue Requirements Application.

6.       The Application, together with any supporting materials, will be made available for inspection at the following locations:

7.       BC Hydro will make the Application available on its website at http://www.bchydro.com.

8.       Interveners and Interested Parties should register with the Commission, in writing or by electronic submission, by August 15, 2011.  Interveners should specifically state the nature of their interest in the Application and identify generally the nature of the issues that they may intend to pursue during the proceeding and the nature and extent of their anticipated involvement in the review process.

9.       Interveners intending to apply for participant assistance must submit a budget estimate by October 3, 2011, consistent with the Commission’s Participant Assistance/Cost Award Guidelines and Order G‑72‑07.  Copies are available upon request, or can be downloaded from the Commission’s website at http://www.bcuc.com.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this     26^th        day of July 2011.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                                Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                L.A. O’Hara

                                                                                                                                Commissioner

Attachments

APPENDIX A

to Order G-132-11

Page 1 of 1

An Application by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the

Dawson Creek/Chetwynd Area Transmission Project

Initial Regulatory Timetable

An Application by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the

Dawson Creek/Chetwynd Area Transmission Project

NOTICE OF APPLICATION AND PROCEDURAL CONFERENCE

THE APPLICATION

On July 11, 2011, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to construct and operate the Dawson Creek/Chetwynd Area Transmission Project.

The Project consists of a new Sundance Substation, expansions of the Bear Mountain Terminal and Dawson Creek Substation and construction of 72 kilometers of double circuit 230 kilovolt transmission line on new or expanded right-of-way.  The Project is expected to cost $219.1 million and to go into service in October 2013.  A map of the Project is shown below.

BC Hydro also requests approval of a revision to its Electric Tariff to require that distribution voltage customers requesting new service in excess of 10 Megawatts provide security for the cost of transmission system reinforcements.

THE REGULATORY PROCESS

Commission Order G-132-11 established an Initial Regulatory Timetable for the review of the Application and a Procedural Conference on Thursday, September 22, 2011, commencing at 9:00 a.m. in the Commission’s Hearing Room, Twelfth Floor, 1125 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC.  The regulatory timetable can be reviewed on the Commission’s website at:  http://www.bcuc.com>Proceedings&Agendas>Current Applications.

INTERVENTIONS

Persons who expect to actively participate in the BC Hydro proceeding should register as Interveners with the Commission, in writing or electronic submission, by Monday, August 15, 2011.  Interveners should state the nature of their interest in the Application, and identify generally the nature of the issues that they may intend to pursue during the proceeding and the nature and extent of their anticipated involvement in the review process.  Interveners will receive a copy of the Application as well as all correspondence and filed documentation and should provide an email address if available.

Persons not expecting to actively participate in the BC Hydro proceeding, but who have an interest in the Application, should register as Interested Parties with the Commission, in writing or electronic submission, by Monday, August 15, 2011, identifying their interest in the Application.  Interested Parties will receive a copy of the Introduction of the Application and a copy of the Commission’s Decision when issued.

All submissions and/or correspondence received from active participants or the general public relating to the Application will be placed on the public record and posted to the Commission’s web site.

PARTICIPANT ASSISTANCE/COST AWARDS

Any party intending to apply for a Participant Assistance Cost Award (PACA) must submit its PACA budget, pursuant to the PACA Guidelines attached to Order G-72-07, to the Commission by Monday, October 3, 2011.  The PACA Guidelines are available at the Commission’s web site:

http://www.bcuc.com/Documents/Guidelines/Participant/Guide.pdf

PUBLIC INSPECTION OF THE DOCUMENTS

The Application, together with any supporting materials, will be made available for inspection at the following locations:

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information, please contact the Acting Commission Secretary, Ms. Alanna Gillis as follows:

Acting Commission Secretary

Telephone: (604) 660‐4700

Facsimile: (604) 660‐1102

Email: Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com

BC Toll Free: 1‐800‐663‐1385