ORDER NUMBER
G-313-19
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
Review of the Regulatory Oversight of Capital Expenditures and Projects
BEFORE:
K. A. Keilty, Panel Chair
W. M. Everett, Q.C., Commissioner
R. I. Mason, Commissioner
on December 2, 2019
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On May 3, 2016, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) issued Order G-58-16 establishing a proceeding to review the regulatory oversight of British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority’s (BC Hydro) capital expenditures and projects (Review);
B. By Order G-63-16 dated May 10, 2016, the BCUC established the regulatory timetable for the proceeding and included an Initial Scope for the Review as Appendix B to that order;
C. By May 25, 2016, the following parties registered as interveners: Association of Major Power Customers of British Columbia (AMPC); British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al (BCOAPO); BC Sustainable Energy Association and Sierra Club (BCSEA); Clean Energy Association of BC (CEABC); Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC); Ilse Leis; and Movement of United Professionals (MoveUP);
D. By Order G-174-16 dated November 30, 2016, the BCUC ordered that further regulatory process for the Review commence following the issuance by the BCUC of the final decision on the BC Hydro Fiscal 2017 to Fiscal 2019 Revenue Requirements Application (2017-2019 RRA);
E. By Orders G-89-18, G-126-18, G-173-18, G-193-18, G-223-18, G-226-18, G-16-19, G-24-19 and G-63-19, the BCUC updated the regulatory timetable;
F. By Order G-47-18 dated March 1, 2018, the BCUC issued its final decision on the BC Hydro 2017-2019 RRA. On April 3, 2018, BC Hydro filed its initial proposal and proposed 2018 Capital Filing Guidelines (2018 Guidelines). On April 24, 2018, interveners and BCUC issued technical and clarifying questions regarding BC Hydro’s initial proposal followed by a BC Hydro led transcribed workshop on May 18, 2018;
G. On June 13, 2018, BC Hydro filed its revised proposal requesting approval of the 2018 Guidelines (Revised Proposal);
H. On November 5, 2018, CEC filed intervener evidence of David Craig and Scott Thomson. On December 10, 2018, CEC filed responses to Information Requests (IR) from BC Hydro, BCUC and interveners;
I. On February 15, 2019, BC Hydro filed rebuttal evidence, including evidence of Dr. Carpenter and Dr. Brown of the Brattle Group (Brattle Group) On July 4, 2019, BC Hydro filed its responses to further IRs on both its Revised Proposal and its rebuttal evidence from the BCUC and interveners;
J. BC Hydro filed its Final Argument on August 1, 2019. By August 22, 2019, BCOAPO, BCSEA, CEABC, CEC and MoveUP filed intervener Final Arguments. BC Hydro filed its Reply Argument on September 5, 2019; and
K. The BCUC has reviewed all evidence in this proceeding and considers that subject to certain amendments, approval of BC Hydro’s 2018 Guidelines will be warranted.
NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:
1. Pursuant to sections 44.2, 45 to 46 and section 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC will approve BC Hydro’s 2018 Capital Filing Guidelines, subject to:
a. The amendments directed by the BCUC in sub-section 3.1.3 of the Decision; and
b. The other amendments BC Hydro indicated it was amenable to making as set out in sub-section 3.2 of the Decision.
2. BC Hydro is directed to file an update of the 2018 Guidelines in a compliance filing for review and approval by this Panel, on or before 60 days following the date of this Decision.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 2nd day of December 2019.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
K. A. Keilty
Commissioner