Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-205-20

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Long-Term Resource Plan Filing Date

BEFORE:

D. M. Morton, Panel Chair

C. M. Brewer, Commissioner

R. I. Mason, Commissioner

on July 30, 2020

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      Pursuant to section 44.1 (2) of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), subject to subsection (2.1), a public utility must file a long-term resource plan with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) in the form and at the times the BCUC requires;

B.      Pursuant to section 44.1, subsection (2.1) of the UCA, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
(BC Hydro) need not file a long-term resource plan before February 28, 2021;  

C.      Although BC Hydro is currently developing its long-term resource plan, the last time the BCUC reviewed BC Hydro’s long-term resource plan was in 2010. The lack of a more recent plan impedes the BCUC’s ability to efficiently discharge its regulatory responsibilities in relation to BC Hydro; and

D.      The BCUC considers that establishing a public hearing for the review of the long-term resource plan filing date is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to section 44.1(2) of the UCA, the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       A written hearing process is established for the review of the long-term resource plan filing date in accordance with the regulatory timetable as set out in Appendix A to this order.

2.       By Thursday, August 6, 2020, BC Hydro is to:

a.       publish this order and the Appendix A on its website;

b.      provide a copy of this order and the Appendix A to the participants in the BC Hydro F2020 to F2021 Revenue Requirements Application proceeding; and

c.       communicate this order and Appendix A to all the parties that BC Hydro is currently consulting with or that have expressed an interest in being consulted on the BC Hydro long-term resource plan.

3.       By Thursday, August 20, 2020, BC Hydro is to submit to the BCUC, with rationale:

a.       the date by which BC Hydro will file its next long-term resource plan; and

b.      a proposal for an interim filing of BC Hydro’s current planning context that would, in the absence of a recently filed long-term resource plan, aid in the review of BC Hydro applications filed prior to the BCUC review of the next BC Hydro long-term resource plan.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this      30^th       day of July 2020.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

D. M. Morton

Commissioner

Attachment

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Long-Term Resource Plan Filing Date