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 John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project

BEFORE:               M.R. Harle, Commissioner

                                N.E. MacMurchy, Commissioner                               May 28, 2012

                                R.D. Revel, Commissioner

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.      On May 25, 2012, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) applied pursuant to section 46(1) of the Utilities Commission Act (the Act), for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) (the Application) to construct and operate the John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project (the Project) as described in the Application;

B.      The Project Expected Amount is $1,014.3 million, which includes costs to date, contingency, Interest During Construction (IDC) and capital overhead, but does not include the estimated $15 million net book value of those assets retired as a result of the Project;

C.      The Project has two main components: 1) the replacement of the existing three penstocks with an underground tunnel incorporating a bypass facility to reduce flow interruptions to fish; and (2) the installation of three generating units in a new Powerhouse.  The target in-service date is November 2018;

D.      BC Hydro held a Workshop on the Application on May 17, 2012, at the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) Hearing Room, 12^th Floor, 1125 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC;

E.       The Commission has determined that a written process is required for the review of the Application having two rounds of Information Requests.

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 John Hart 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 F2012 to F2014 Revenue Requirements Application.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this             28^th             day of May 2012.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                            Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                M.R. Harle

                                                                                                                                Commissioner

Attachments

Application by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

for the John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project

REGULATORY TIMETABLE

Application by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

for the John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project

NOTICE OF APPLICATION AND WRITTEN PUBLIC HEARING

THE APPLICATION

On May 25, 2012, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (the Commission), pursuant to section 46(1) of the Utilities Commission Act (the Act), seeking a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) (the Application) for the John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project (the Project), in the vicinity of Campbell River, BC, as described in its Application.

The Project has an estimated capital cost of approximately $1,014.3 million, which includes costs for the design and supply and install contracts associated with: 1) the replacement of the existing three penstocks with an underground tunnel incorporating a bypass facility to reduce flow interruptions to fish; and (2) the installation of three generating units in a new Powerhouse.

THE REGULATORY PROCESS

Commission Order G‐68‐12 established the Regulatory Timetable for the review of the Application by way of a Written Public Hearing.

The 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 Tuesday, June 5, 2012.  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 Tuesday, June 5, 2012, 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 Friday, July 6, 2012.  A complete description of the PACA Guidelines is available at the Commission’s web site:

http://www.bcuc.com>Guidelines&Resources>Guidelines>Participant Assistance/Cost Award Guidelines

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