Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-182-20

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

Kyuquot Power Ltd.

Investigation into the Safety and Reliability of the KPL System

BEFORE:

D. M. Morton, Commissioner

C. Brewer, Commissioner

T. A. Loski, Commissioner

on July 9, 2020

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      By email dated February 13, 2020, a representative of the Ka:’yu:'k't'h' / Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nations (KCFN) filed a complaint with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) concerning, amongst other things, a safety matter regarding Kyuquot Power Ltd. (KPL) (Complaint);

B.      The KPL power distribution system (KPL System) is interconnected to the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) electric system and supplies customers, including KCFN, the Village of Houpsitas and others on the outer coast of Kyuquot Sound, with electricity;  

C.      In the Complaint, the KCFN representative stated concerns regarding the reliability, service and maintenance of the KPL System;

D.      On February 14, 2020, the BCUC contacted KPL regarding the Complaint and subsequently requested KPL to provide a written response to the Complaint;

E.       On February 21, 2020, KPL responded, indicating that all but one item that had been identified in the Complaint had been corrected. KPL submitted that the single remaining item would be corrected within 30 days as permitted by Technical Safety British Columbia;

F.       On March 8, 10, 11, and 12, 2020, the KCFN representative contacted the BCUC regarding ongoing power outages of the KPL System;

G.     On March 15, 2020, the BCUC issued Order G-50-20, which among other things directed KPL to provide the BCUC with daily updates starting from March 16, 2020, for the following 15 days on the status of the KPL System, including its operational status, work performed, and work planned for the KPL system;

H.      On March 17 and 26, 2020, KPL submitted letters to the BCUC requesting an extension to the filing of compliance directives pursuant to Order G-50-20 to March 30, 2020 because of resource availability following the COVID-19 pandemic. The BCUC granted KPL the extension requests, and on March 30, 2020 KPL submitted all of the compliance directives in accordance with Order G-50-20;

I.        In accordance with the BCUC’s Complaint Guidelines, the KCFN made submissions in response to KPL’s compliance directives on April 28, 2020;

J.        On May 15, 2020, by Order G-115-20, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable to review the safety and reliability of the KPL system;

K.      On June 15, 2020, the BCUC submitted BCUC Information Request (IR) No. 1 to KPL;

L.       On June 21 and 24, 2020 respectively, the KCFN and British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO) submitted their requests to intervene;

M.    On June 30, 2020, KCFN submitted a letter requesting a one-day extension to the filing of Intervener IR
No. 1. The Panel considered the KCFN request and granted the extension;

N.     On July 7, 2020, KPL submitted a letter requesting a one-week extension of the July 20, 2020 deadline to submit KPL’s response to the KCFN Information Request No. 1; and 

O.     The BCUC has reviewed KPL’s letter and determines an amendment to the regulatory timetable is warranted.    

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders the regulatory timetable attached to Order G-115-20A is amended as set out in Appendix A to this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this                  9^th                        day of July 2020.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

D. M. Morton

Commissioner

Kyuquot Power Ltd.

Investigation into the Safety and Reliability of the KPL System