IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
Lake Buntzen 2 Generating Station Cease of Operations
Regarding Compliance with Commission Order G-78-10
Activities Update Report
BEFORE: L. F. Kelsey, Commissioner
H. G. Harowitz, Commissioner December 10, 2015
K. A. Keilty, Commissioner
D. M. Morton, Commissioner
O R D E R
WHEREAS:
A. On November 13, 2009, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) for permission to permanently cease operations at Lake Buntzen 2 Generating Station (LB2) located on Indian Arm in the Lower Mainland pursuant to section 41 of the Utilities Commission Act;
B. On April 29, 2010, the Commission issued Order G-78-10 granting permission for BC Hydro to permanently cease operations at LB2 and directed BC Hydro to file a report with the Commission upon completion of LB2 Stage 2 work, summarizing total costs and their accounting treatment. Directive 3 of the order directed BC Hydro to file a LB2 update report every two years, commencing April 1, 2012, indicating the work planned and associated cost estimates for the subsequent two-year period;
C. On November 26, 2013, BC Hydro filed the Stage 1 and 2 Completion and Update Report that outlined the actual cost at completion and requested and extension for the next LB2 update report to be filed by September 30, 2015;
D. On January 16, 2014, the Commission issued letter L-2-14 granting the extension and requested BC Hydro provide comments on the value of providing future reporting in consideration of the results of the planned internal (penstock) inspection at LB2;
E. On September 30, 2015, BC Hydro filed its LB2 Activities Update Report (Report) that included the results of the internal penstock inspection. The report concludes no remedial work is recommended for the penstocks and the structural integrity of the penstocks is adequate for any conceivable loads that can be introduced by public traffic. Based on the results, BC Hydro considers there is little value in continued reporting and requests relief from Directive 3 of Commission Order G-78-10;
F. BC Hydro filed both confidential and redacted versions of the Report with the Commission because the document discloses commercially sensitive and contractor specific information; and
G. The Commission has reviewed the request and finds continued reporting every two years on LB2 work planned and associated cost estimates is no longer warranted and that the un-redacted version of the Report should be kept confidential.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 41 of the Utilities Commission Act, the British Columbia Utilities Commission orders as follows:
1. British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority is granted relief from Directive 3 of Order G-78-10.
2. The Commission will hold the un-redacted Lake Buntzen 2 Generating Station Activities Update Report confidential as it contains commercial sensitive and contractor specific information. The redacted version of the Report may be released to the public.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 14th day of December 2015.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
D. M. Morton
Commissioner