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
2013 Open Access Transmission Tariff Amendments
BEFORE: L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner
C.A. Brown, Commissioner
B.A. Magnan, Commissioner April 18, 2013
D.M. Morton, Commissioner
R.D. Revel, Commissioner
O R D E R
WHEREAS:
A. On December 9, 2010, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) issued Order G-192-10 approving amendments to the Open Access Transmission Tariff, submitted by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), to reflect the integration of BC Hydro and British Columbia Transmission Corporation pursuant to the Clean Energy Act;
B. On February 23, 2012, the Commission issued Order G-16-12 approving amendments to Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) Rate Schedule 09 (RS 09) - Loss Compensation Service (LCS) to extend its termination date to March 1, 2013;
C. On April 5, 2012, the Commission issued Order G-43-12 approving amendments to OATT Attachment K - Transmission Planning to reflect the transmission planning process of BC Hydro as an integrated electric utility having regard for the requirements of the Clean Energy Act, the UCA, and the transmission planning principles stipulated in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order No. 890;
D. On January 21, 2013, BC Hydro posted a bulletin on its public transmission website regarding its proposed amendments to the OATT and requested that any comments be submitted by February 4, 2013. A notification of the bulletin was sent to those parties who subscribed for BC Hydro’s transmission bulletins as well as to those interested parties that registered to be included in BC Hydro’s Interested Parties List in accordance with BC Hydro’s Attachment K business practice. No comments were received;
E. On February 19, 2013, BC Hydro, pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the UCA, submitted to the Commission an application for amendments the OATT (Application), including:
• Amendments to OATT RS 09 to extend the expiry date of LCS to March 1, 2018, to implement a price floor of $0/MWh on LCS energy sold to customers, and to reflect an amendment made by the Alberta Electric System Operator to the acronym used to refer to its service;
• Amendments to Attachment K that are necessary to ensure that BC Hydro is offering service comparable to the requirements of FERC Order No. 1000; and
• Amendments to the OATT to correct minor typographical errors and to correct a misalignment between the OATT and BC Hydro’s business practice for the scheduling of Non-Firm Transmission;
F. BC Hydro provided a copy of the Application to 14 customers and stakeholders and considered that a minimal written regulatory process was required for this Application;
G. On February 28, 2013, the Commission issued Order G-27-13 extending the termination date of OATT RS 09 to September 1, 2013, and established a Regulatory Timetable for a written review of the Application;
H. On March 7, 2013, BC Hydro posted a bulleting regarding the Application and sent stakeholders, including OATT customers, a copy of the Application, Commission Order G-27-13 and Regulatory Timetable. Comments were requested by March 29, 2013. No comments were received;
I. The Commission reviewed the Application and determines the proposed amendments to the OATT are not unjust, unreasonable, unduly discriminatory or unduly preferential.
NOW THEREFORE the Commission, subject to sections 59-61 of the Utilities Commission Act, orders as follows:
1. The proposed amendments to the Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT), as applied for in the Application by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) dated February 19, 2013, are approved. The amendments include:
• Amendments to OATT Rate Schedule 09 (RS 09) to implement a price floor of $0/MWh on Loss Compensation Service (LCS) energy sold to customers, and to reflect an amendment made by the Alberta Electric System Operator to the acronym used to refer to its service;
• Amendments to Attachment K that are necessary to ensure that BC Hydro is offering service comparable to the requirements of FERC Order No. 1000; and
• Amendments to the OATT to correct minor typographical errors and to correct a misalignment between the OATT and BC Hydro’s business practice for the scheduling of Non-Firm Transmission.
2. BC Hydro must establish a 15-day window during which customers that have elected to take LCS from BC Hydro may elect to opt-out of RS 09 and self supply transmission losses.
3. BC Hydro must file amended OATT Tariff Rate Schedules in accordance with the terms of this Order within 30 days.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 18th day of April 2013.
BY ORDER
Original Signed by:
D.M. Morton
Commissioner