ORDER NUMBER
G-33-20
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity Reporting Requirements
BEFORE:
B. A. Magnan, Commissioner
on February 27, 2020
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On July 7, 2005, the British Columbia Transmission Corporation (now British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority) requested the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) to grant a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for the Vancouver Island Transmission Reinforcement Project to reinforce the electric transmission system serving Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands (CPCN Application);
B. As part of the CPCN Application proceeding, interveners raised health and safety issues, including health concerns associated with Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) exposure from both existing and proposed transmission lines as part of the proposed CPCN;
C. On July 7, 2006, the BCUC issued Order C-4-06, approving the CPCN Application and among other directives, directed the British Columbia Transmission Corporation (BCTC) to file a public report with the BCUC every two years, or sooner if there are major developments in the field, that summarizes the latest results of EMF risk assessments and any changes in guidelines developed by the World Health Organization, International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, Health Canada and others where relevant (the Report);
D. On March 19, 2019, the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed the latest Report and states that consistent with all previous reports, the recent research results, including scientific literature that has been reviewed, do not provide any new evidence to alter the conclusion that long-term exposure to Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields (ELF-EMF) is not known to cause any adverse health effects, including cancer or other illness;
E. BC Hydro also states the cost of each of these Reports is approximately $25,000 (USD) and, given the consistent findings showing that long-term exposure to ELF-EMF is not known to cause any adverse health effects, continuing to require BC Hydro to provide a report every two years imposes unnecessary costs on BC Hydro ratepayers;
F. BC Hydro submits that it could provide these Reports, if required, on an as-needed basis in support of stand-alone project applications that involve the addition to or modification of the bulk transmission system and this should be sufficient to continue to keep the BCUC updated on the research into the health effects of exposure to ELF-EMF; and
G. The BCUC has considered the CPCN Application and the Report and concludes that a variance to Directive 4 of Order C-4-06 is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 99 of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders as follows:
1. BC Hydro is no longer required to submit the Report in accordance with Directive 4 of Order C-4-06.
2. In the event that there is a material change in the research related to health impacts of exposure to ELF-EMF, BC Hydro is directed to report such changes to the BCUC in a timely manner.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 27th day of February 2020.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
B. A. Magnan
Commissioner