ORDER NUMBER
G-134-17
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Inc.
2016 Long Term Electric Resource Plan and
2016 Long Term Demand Side Management Plan
BEFORE:
H. G. Harowitz, Commissioner/Panel Chair
D. J. Enns, Commissioner
M. Kresivo, QC, Commissioner
on August 29, 2017
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On August 25, 2017 FortisBC Inc. (FBC) filed an application to suspend the filed 2016 Long Term Electric Resource Plan (2016 LTERP) and Long Term Demand Side Management Plan (2016 LTDSM Plan) Regulatory Timetable established by Order G-107-17 (Request for Suspension);
B. In the Request for Suspension, FBC indicates that it identified errors in the assumptions supporting the British Columbia Conservation Potential Review (CPR) for the FBC service territory. FBC is conducting an evaluation of the impact of these errors to determine whether there is a resulting impact to the 2016 LTERP and/or 2016 LTDSM Plan, and the extent of any further evidence that may need to be filed;
C. On November 30, 2016, FBC applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) pursuant to section 44.1(6) of the Utilities Commission Act for acceptance of its 2016 Long Term Electric Resource Plan (2016 LTERP) and Long Term Demand-Side Management Plan (2016 LTDSM Plan), as Volumes 1 and 2, respectively (Application);
D. The 2016 LTERP presents a long term plan for meeting the forecast peak and energy requirements of FBC customers with demand-side and supply-side resources over the next 20 years. The 2016 LTERP includes a preferred portfolio to meet the long term requirements of FBC customers as well as an action plan that identifies activities that FBC expects to take during the first four years of the 20-year planning horizon;
E. The 2016 LTDSM Plan includes an assessment of the energy efficiency and conservation potential for FBC customers. It provides FBC with different levels of demand-side resource options to assess along with supply-side resource options in order to address the forecast load-resource balance gaps identified in the 2016 LTERP over the 20-year planning horizon. The 2016 LTDSM Plan also identifies FBC’s preferred demand-side management scenario for long term planning purposes;
F. Section 44.1(5) of the Utilities Commission Act provides that the Commission may establish a process to review a long-term resource plan;
G. By Order G-197-16, the Commission established a written hearing for review of the Application and established a regulatory timetable;
H. By Orders G-102-17 and G-107-17, the Commission amended the Regulatory Timetable established by Order G-197-16; and
I. The Panel has considered the nature and reasons for the Request for Suspension and is of the view that it is appropriate to suspend the Regulatory Timetable until further notice.
NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders that the Regulatory Timetable for the 2016 LTERP and 2016 LTDSM Plan is suspended until further notice.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 29th day of August 2017.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
H. G. Harowitz
Commissioner