ORDER NUMBER
R-31-16
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
Innergex Renewable Energy Inc.
Application to Change Registration required for compliance with
Mandatory Reliability Standards
BEFORE:
D. M. Morton, Commissioner
D. J. Enns, Commissioner
H. G. Harowitz, Commissioner
R. D. Revel, Commissioner
on June 30, 2016
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On July 17, 2014, by Order R-32-14, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) adopted Reliability Standards FAC-001-1, FAC-003-3, PRC-004-2.1a and PRC-005-1.1b that require a Generator Owner (GO) and Generator Operator (GOP) to assume compliance responsibilities for Transmission Owner (TO) and Transmission Operator (TOP) requirements for the transmission line that connects generation to the Bulk Electric System (BES). Commission Order R-32-14 also specified British Columbia effective dates for each reliability standard, the last of which was August 1, 2015 for FAC-003-3;
B. In consideration of the compliance requirements of the four reliability standards applicable to a GO and GOP noted above, on June 15, 2006, Innergex requested that the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) review its registration with the British Columbia Mandatory Reliability Standards Program (BC MRS Program);
C. Section 125.2 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) assigns exclusive jurisdiction to the Commission to determine whether a “reliability standard,” as defined in the UCA, is in the public interest and should be adopted in British Columbia;
D. The Mandatory Reliability Standards Regulation (MRS Regulation), Ministerial Order M039, deposited February 23, 2009, described the parties subject to reliability standards adopted under section 125.2(6) of the UCA and on June 4, 2009, the Commission issued Order G-67-09 specifying that entities subject to reliability standards must register with the Commission;
E. In accordance with the Administration Agreement between WECC and the Commission, dated August 21, 2014, WECC makes registration recommendations in its role as Administrator for the BC MRS Program;
F. The Registration Manual, approved by Commission Order R‑34-15, requires an Entity to notify WECC of any change in circumstance affecting its registration and allows the Entity 21 days to respond to any registration recommendation issued by WECC;
G. By Order G-122-10, dated July 29, 2010, the Commission approved the registration of Cloudworks Energy Inc. (Cloudworks) for the functions of GO, GOP, TO and TOP with the BC MRS Program. On June 15, 2012, WECC processed a corporate name change recognizing that Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. (Innergex) had acquired Cloudworks;
H. On June 22, 2016, WECC issued a recommendation to the Commission for deregistration of Innergex for the TO and TOP functions (Recommendation);
I. On June 24, 2016, Innergex informed the Commission that it agrees with WECC’s Recommendation of deregistration from the TO and TOP functions; and
J. The Commission reviewed the Recommendation and considers deregistration of Innergex for the TO and TOP functions is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 125.2(10) of the Utilities Commission Act and in accordance with the Registration Manual that is Appendix 1 to the Rules of Procedure for Reliability Standards in British Columbia, the British Columbia Utilities Commission approves that Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. be deregistered for the Transmission Owner and Transmission Operator functions with the British Columbia Mandatory Reliability Standards Program.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 30th day of June 2016.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
D. M. Morton
Commissioner