ORDER NUMBER
G-27-16
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Inc.
Self-Generation Policy Application
BEFORE:
B. A. Magnan, Panel Chair/Commissioner
L. A. O’Hara, Commissioner
R. D. Revel, Commissioner
on March 4, 2016
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On January 9, 2015, FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) filed a self-generation policy application (SGP Application) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) in compliance with Directive 5 of Order G-60-14 and Order G-67-14;
B. The SGP Application puts forward FortisBC’s high
level policy statement (High Level Policy Statement) and, in support of this
statement, addresses the specific policy subject areas as identified in
Directive 5 of Order
G-60-14. These areas include: arbitrage, 1999 Access Principles, a policy on
Generator Baseline (GBL) Guidelines, and the benefits of self-generation
(Supporting Policies);
C. The British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOPAO), B.C. Sustainable Energy Association and Sierra Club of British Columbia (BCSEA), Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC), British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro), British Columbia Municipal Electrical Utilities (BCMEU), Zellstoff Celgar Limited Partnership (Celgar), and the Association of Major Power Customers (AMPC) registered as interveners;
D. By Order G-3-15, dated January 13, 2015, the Commission established a procedural conference that was held on February 5, 2015;
E. After the procedural conference by Order G-32-15 dated February 27, 2015, the Commission determined that the review of the Application would proceed by way of the following two-staged approach:
Stage I: The Panel makes certain findings on the High Level Policy Statement and Supporting Policies to establish building blocks for Stage II;
Stage II: Filing and review of a Self-Generation Policy Application;
E. To ensure that the Panel had sufficient information in Stage I to consider the High Level Policy Statement and Supporting Policies, the Panel sought submissions and a reply from FortisBC on the Panel’s Issues List that was previously the subject of comment by FortisBC and interveners (collectively the Submissions);and
F. The Panel considered the evidence in the Application and the Submissions and provides both guidance and determinations to assist FortisBC in the development of a comprehensive Self-Generation Policy and GBL Guidelines that will form the basis for Stage II.
NOW THEREFORE the British Columbia Utilities Commission orders as follows:
1. Within 120 days of the date of this order, FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) is directed to file a Stage II Self-Generation Policy Application, which includes both a comprehensive Self-Generation Policy and Generator Baseline Guidelines, in accordance with the decision issued concurrently with this order.
2. The principles set out in the 1999 Access Principles Application, approved by Order G-27-99, are not relevant to the development of FortisBC’s Self-Generation Policy or the Generator Baseline Guidelines.
3. Participant cost award applications are to be filed within 45 days of the date of this order.
4. This order concludes the review of the subject application. The review of the Stage II Self-Generation Policy Application identified in directive 1 above will be established as a new proceeding.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 4th day of March 2016.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
B. A. Magnan
Panel Chair/Commissioner