Via Email October 29, 2014
To: Registered Entities in BC MRS Program
Re: British Columbia Mandatory Reliability Standards Program and
Amendments to the Mandatory Reliability Standards Regulation
The provisions of section 125.2 of the Utilities Commission Act and the Mandatory Reliability Standards Regulation (MRS Regulation) establish the framework for the British Columbia Mandatory Reliability Standards Program (BC MRS Program). MRS Regulation under BC Reg 32/2009, Ministerial Order M039 contained the first legislated definition of the bulk power system and other terms related to the BC MRS Program and also prescribed the entities that are subject to reliability standards in BC.
On October 6, 2014, the MRS Regulation was amended via Ministerial Order M325, as per the schedule attached as Appendix A to this letter. The amendments pertain to the incorporation of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) definition of Bulk Electric System in BC. The May 8, 2014 NERC definition of Bulk Electric System, as also contained in the more recent October 21, 2014 NERC Glossary, is attached as Appendix B to this letter.
The British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) administers the BC MRS Program using the Commission-established BC Rules of Procedure for Reliability Standards in British Columbia and determines whether to register Applicable Entities for specific functions. The Commission has engaged the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) as the Commission’s Administrator to assist the Commission in matters of registration and compliance monitoring pursuant to the Administration Agreement, dated October 15, 2009 and renewed August 21, 2014.
In consideration of the amendments, some Registered Entities may qualify for a change in circumstance regarding their functional registration with the BC MRS Program. Registered Entities that believe this change may in turn change their registration status should submit a registration request to WECC. To submit a request, go to www.wecc.biz and follow the link to “Entity Registration” under the Toolbox menu found at the top of the page.
Yours truly,
Erica Hamilton
CAS/nd
Enclosures
cc: Western Electricity Coordinating Council
bcuc@wecc.biz