Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

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

and

Application by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

to Construct and Operate the Ruskin Dam and Powerhouse Upgrade Project

BEFORE:               M.R. Harle, Panel Chair/Commissioner                   February 24, 2011

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.      On February 22, 2011, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed pursuant to section 46(1) of the Utilities Commission Act (the Act), an application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to construct and operate the Ruskin Dam and Powerhouse Upgrade Project (the Project) as described in the Application;

B.      The Project Expected Amount is $718.1 million and the Authorized Amount is $856.9 million, which includes costs to date;

C.      The Project has two main components:

(i)     the Dam upgrade entails  the replacement of the spillway piers and spillway gates, rehabilitation of the spillway surface, replacement of the roadway crossing the top of the Dam, anchoring and reinforcement of sections of the existing Right Abutment and construction of a new seepage cut-off wall at the Right Abutment, and

(ii)   the Powerhouse upgrade entails seismic upgrades to the Powerhouse structure and rehabilitation/ replacement of the three generating units, water conveyancing components, switchyard, electrical and mechanical equipment and ancillary systems.

          The target in-service date is June 2017;

D.      BC Hydro will hold a Workshop on the Application on February 28, 2011 at the Commission Hearing Room, 12th Floor, 1125 Howe Street in Vancouver, B.C., commencing at 9:00 a.m.;

E.      The Commission has determined that a Written Public Hearing process is needed for the review of the Application.

NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:

1.       A Written Public Hearing process is established for the review of the Application according to the Regulatory Timetable as set out in Appendix A to this Order.

2.       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 newspapers, and such local papers in the vicinity of the Ruskin Dam that will provide proper notice to the public that may be impacted by the Project.

3.       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 though their Chief and Council contacts.

4.       BC Hydro will provide a copy of this Order to all parties who intervened in its F2011 Revenue Requirements Application.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this     24^th    day of February 2011.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                            Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                M.R. Harle

                                                                                                                                Panel Chair/Commissioner

Attachments

Application by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

to Construct and Operate the Ruskin Dam and Powerhouse Upgrade Project

REGULATORY AGENDA AND TIMETABLE

Application by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

to Construct and Operate the Ruskin Dam and Powerhouse Upgrade Project

NOTICE OF APPLICATION AND WRITTEN PUBLIC HEARING

THE APPLICATION

On February 22, 2011, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (the Commission) for approval pursuant to section on 46(1) of the Utilities Commission Act (the Act), seeking a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for the Ruskin Dam and Powerhouse Upgrade Project, in the vicinity of Mission BC, as described in its Application.

The Project has an estimated capital cost of approximately $718.1million, funded entirely by BC Hydro’s ratepayers, which includes costs for the design and supply and install contracts associated with upgrades and replacements to the Ruskin Dam, spillway facilities, powerhouse and generating units.

THE REGULATORY PROCESS

Commission Order G‐34‐11 established the Regulatory Timetable for the review of the Application by way of a Written Public Hearing.

The detailed Regulatory Timetable can be reviewed on the Commission’s website 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 Thursday, March 10, 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.  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 Thursday, March 10, 2011, identifying their interest in the Application.  Interested Parties will receive a copy of the Executive Summary of the Application.

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 file 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 Wednesday, March 23, 2011.  A complete description of the PACA Guidelines is 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 Commission Secretary, Ms. Erica Hamilton as follows:

Commission Secretary

Telephone: (604) 660‐4700

Facsimile: (604) 660‐1102

Email: Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com

BC Toll Free: 1‐800‐663‐1385