Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-253-18

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Application for Reliability Coordinator Registration with the Mandatory Reliability Standards Program

BEFORE:

A. K. Fung, QC, Panel Chair

W. M. Everett, QC, Commissioner

on December 24, 2018

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On October 29, 2018, the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) submitted to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) its Mandatory Reliability Standards Reliability Coordinator (RC) Registration Filing (Application). Appended to the Application is BC Hydro’s September 4, 2018 application to the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) to register as the RC for British Columbia (BC);

B.      Section 125.2 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) assigns exclusive jurisdiction to the BCUC to determine whether a “reliability standard,” as defined in the UCA, is in the public interest and should be adopted in BC. On June 4, 2009, the BCUC issued Order G-67-09 specifying that entities subject to reliability standards must register with the BCUC;

C.      By Order G‐123‐09, the BCUC adopted the Rules of Procedure for Reliability Standards in British Columbia (BC ROP) including Appendix 1: Registration Manual. Most recent revisions and updates to the BC ROP, including the Registration Manual, were approved by Order R‑40‑17, dated September 1, 2017;

D.      The Registration Manual states that entities are required to be registered and comply with BCUC-adopted Reliability Standards in BC if, among other things, they perform a function listed in the functional types identified in Section 2.1.2, and RC is one of the functional types listed;

E.       In accordance with the Administration Agreement between WECC and the BCUC, dated September 8, 2009 and renewed August 21, 2014, WECC makes registration recommendations in its role as the BCUC’s Administrator for the BC Mandatory Reliability Standards Program;

F.       The Registration Manual, section 2.2.4 states that the BCUC may consider whether additional process or information is required and will then determine whether an entity should be registered for particular function(s);

G.      By Order G-227-18 dated November 30, 2018, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable, including an intervener registration deadline of December 12, 2018. FortisBC Inc. (FBC), Catalyst Paper Corporation and British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. have registered their requests to intervene;

H.      On December 13, 2018, the BCUC issued a letter to BC Hydro to clarify certification requirements described in the Application. BC Hydro responded to the BCUC on December 18, 2018 and WECC subsequently submitted a letter of comment to the BCUC clarifying its position on certification requirements on December 19, 2018;

I.        On December 19, 2018, BC Hydro held a workshop to review the Application;

J.        On December 21, 2018, the BCUC submitted its Information Request No. 1 to BC Hydro;

K.      On December 21, 2018, FBC filed a letter indicating that it was premature for FBC to determine with certainty its need to file evidence and proposed that the BCUC issue a revised regulatory timetable that would allow intervener confirmation of intent to file evidence to occur after BC Hydro has filed responses to BCUC and Intervener IRs No.1; and

L.       The BCUC determines that an amendment to the Regulatory Timetable to include a procedural conference to receive oral submissions on FBC’s request from all parties is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 125.2 of the UCA and section 2.2.4 of the Registration Manual, the BCUC orders that the Regulatory Timetable established by Order 227-18 is amended as set out in Appendix A to this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this           24th           day of December 2018.

BY ORDER

Original Signed By:

A. K. Fung, QC

Commissioner

Attachment

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Application for Reliability Coordinator Registration with the Mandatory Reliability Standards Program

*Location:           BCUC Hearing Room

                                12^th Floor, 1125 Howe Street

                                Vancouver, BC  V6Z 2K8