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

to Amend Attachment K of the Open Access Transmission Tariff

BEFORE:               L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner

                                D. Morton, Commissioner                                            February 2, 2012

O R D E R

WHEREAS:

A.      On September 16, 2010, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro), pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (Act), submitted to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) an application to amend the Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) (2010 Application) to reflect the integration of BC Hydro and British Columbia Transmission Corporation pursuant to the Clean Energy Act, S.B.C. 2010, c. 16 (CEA);

B.      As part of the 2010 Application, BC Hydro sought an order from the Commission granting BC Hydro relief from compliance with the terms of the current Attachment K (Transmission Planning Process) to its OATT until January 1, 2012.  Such relief was requested to allow BC Hydro to fully assess its transmission planning process and determine how it will proceed with compliance with the CEA in conjunction with the Act and the OATT;

C.      On December 9, 2010, the Commission issued Order G-192-10 approving, among other things, BC Hydro’s request for relief from its obligations under the current Attachment K of the OATT until January 1, 2012;

D.      On December 15, 2011, BC Hydro posted its proposed Attachment K on its public transmission website for comments from OATT service customers;

E.       On December 16, 2011, BC Hydro also applied to the Commission for additional relief from its obligations under the current Attachment K until January 31, 2012;

F.       On December 23, 2011, the Commission issued Order G-225-11 approving BC Hydro’s request for relief from its obligations under the current Attachment K until January 31, 2012;

G.     On January 3, 2012, BC Hydro received comments on the proposed Attachment K from the British Columbia Old Age Pensioners Organization et al. (Letter of Comment);

H.      On January 25, 2012, BC Hydro, pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Act, submitted to the Commission an application to amend the existing Attachment K (Transmission Planning Process) of the OATT (Application) to reflect the transmission planning process of BC Hydro as an integrated electric utility having regard for the requirements of the CEA, the Act, and the transmission planning principles stipulated in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Order No. 890.  The concerns raised in the Letter of Comment were addressed in the Application;

I.        BC Hydro recommends that a written regulatory process is appropriate for review of the proposed revisions to Attachment K of the OATT.  Based on the consultation on the existing and revised Attachment K, and past regulatory proceedings, BC Hydro believes that the provisions of Attachment K are not controversial and interest in Attachment K has been, and appears to be, limited;

J.        In the Application, BC Hydro also seeks relief from its obligation under the current Attachment K until such time as the Attachment K review process is complete and the revised Attachment K is approved by the Commission and becomes effective;

K.      The implementation of Attachment K will require the development of OATT business practices.  Following the approval of the revised Attachment K, BC Hydro will develop and consult on proposed business practices that support Attachment K in accordance with section 4 of the OATT.  To allow BC Hydro sufficient time to develop and consult on the business practices, BC Hydro requests that the revised Attachment K become effective no earlier than four months after the date on which the new tariff sheets are approved.

NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:

1.    The Commission approves BC Hydro’s request for relief from its obligations under the current Attachment K of the OATT until the revised Attachment K becomes effective, that is, four months after the date on which the new tariff sheets are approved by the Commission.

2.    The Regulatory Timetable for the Application is set out in Appendix A to this Order.

3.    BC Hydro is directed to provide a copy of this Order to all OATT customers and the stakeholders who received a copy of this Application, by Wednesday, February 8, 2012.  In its cover letter to these customers and stakeholders, BC Hydro should advise that the Commission has established a written hearing process to review the Application.  The letter should also provide the relevant links to the Application material on the BC Hydro website.

4.    Interveners intending to apply for PACA must submit a budget estimate by Wednesday, February 15, 2012. PACA applications should be consistent with the Commission’s PACA Guidelines and Order G-72-07.  Copies of the Guidelines are available upon request or can be downloaded from the Commission’s website at: http://www.bcuc.com/Documents/Guidelines/2010/DOC_5014_G-72-07_PACA_2007_Guidelines.pdf

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this        2^nd           day of February 2012.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

L.F. Kelsey

Commissioner

Attachment

An Application by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

to Amend Attachment K of the Open Access Transmission Tariff

REGULATORY TIMETABLE