Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Application for Approval of Contracted Generator Baseline Guidelines
and Reconsideration and Variance of Order G-19-14

BEFORE:                 L. A. O’Hara, Panel Chair/Commissioner

                                R. D. Revel, Commissioner                                                  April 23, 2015

                                B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

O  R D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.       On November 2, 2012, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) for Approval to Amend Tariff Supplement No. 74 Customer Baseline Load Determination Guidelines for Rate Schedule 1823 Customers with Self-Generation Facilities (TS 74 Application);

B.       The proposed amendments to TS 74 impacted GBLs for customers with contracted generating units (Contracted GBLs); however, the principles for setting Contracted GBLs were not addressed as part of the
TS 74 Application. In that proceeding, BC Hydro stated that BC Hydro and the customer negotiate Contracted GBLs in accordance with the principles set out in the 2012 GBL Information Report;

C.       On February 17, 2014, by Order G-19-14, the Commission made its final determination on the TS 74 Application and, pursuant to Directive 2, directed BC Hydro to file an application with the Commission for approval of updated GBL Guidelines to be incorporated into TS 74;

D.       On May 21, 2014, BC Hydro applied to the Commission for a reconsideration and variance of Order G-19-14 requesting that the Commission rescind Directive 2 (Phase 1 Reconsideration Application). By Order
G-106-14, dated July 25, 2014, the Commission denied BC Hydro’s application to rescind Directive 2 as it related to BC Hydro’s requirement to file an application with the Commission for approval of updated Contracted GBL Guidelines. However, the Commission accepted that there may be alternatives to filing the Contracted GBL Guidelines other than incorporating them into TS 74 and established Phase Two to reconsider Order G-106-14 as it relates to where the Contracted GBL Guidelines should reside (Phase 2 Reconsideration);

E.        On December 12, 2014, BC Hydro filed its application for approval of Contracted GBL Guidelines in compliance with Order G-19-14 and the Phase 2 Reconsideration and Variance established by Order
G-106-14 (Application);

F.        In the cover letter to the Application, BC Hydro proposes a regulatory process and timetable consisting of one round of information requests (IRs) followed by a streamline review process. On December 16, 2014, the Commission issued Order G-199-14, establishing an initial regulatory timetable for the review of the Application which included, among other things, one round IRs and submissions from the parties on further regulatory process;

G.       The British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al., B.C. Sustainable Energy Association and Sierra Club of British Columbia, Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia, FortisBC Inc., Zellstoff Celgar Limited Partnership, the Association of Major Power Customers and West Fraser Mills registered as interveners;

H.       By Order G-12-15, the Commission established that a procedural conference would take place on Thursday, February 5, 2015, and also suspended the Regulatory Timetable established by Order G-199-14;

I.         On February 12, 2015, by Order G-18-15, after considering submission made at the procedural conference, the Commission, among other things, found that the establishment of an issues list to guide the parties is preparing their information requests (IRs) would be an efficient step and sought submission on a Panel General Issues List;

J.         By Order G-42-15 the Commission considered the submissions and established a Panel General Issues List, lifted the suspension to Order G-199-14 and established a regulatory timetable for information requests and responses and submissions on further process.

K.       On April 17, 2015, BC Hydro requested an amendment to the Regulatory Timetable established by Order G-42-15 to extend the date for filing its responses to the Commission staff and intervener information requests; and

L.        The Commission reviewed BC Hydro’s request and considers that an amendment to the Regulatory Timetable is required.

NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:

1.       The revised Regulatory Timetable for the review of the Application is set out in Appendix A to this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this                    23^rd                  day of April 2015.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                                Original signed by:

L. A. O’Hara

                                                                                                                                Panel Chair/Commissioner

Attachment

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Application for Approval of Contracted Generator Baseline Guidelines
and Reconsideration and Variance of Order G-19-14

REGULATORY TIMETABLE