ORDER NUMBER
G-260-20
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 October 19, 2020
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. By Order G-205-20 dated July 30, 2020, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) established a regulatory timetable for the review of British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) long-term resource plan filing date and ordered that by August 20, 2020, BC Hydro submit to the BCUC, with rationale:
1. the date by which BC Hydro will file its next long-term resource plan; and
2. 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;
B. By letter dated August 20, 2020, BC Hydro submits that it plans to file its next long-term resource plan in September 2021 (BC Hydro Proposal). Additionally, BC Hydro proposes to file in October 2020, a summary of the default inputs that BC Hydro will be using for consultation and in Spring 2021, a draft long-term resource plan;
C. By September 3, 2020, interveners filed their submissions on the BC Hydro Proposal. On September 17, BC Hydro filed its reply submission;
D. By letter dated September 25, 2020, BC Hydro requested that the BCUC suspend the proceeding until 30 days after the Government of BC has been sworn-in and a Cabinet has been appointed;
E. By letter dated October 1, 2020, the BCUC requested further submissions from BC Hydro and interveners regarding BC Hydro’s request to suspend the proceeding;
F. By letter dated October 2, 2020, BC Hydro provided its further submission. On October 6, 2020, interveners filed submissions, and BC Hydro filed a reply submission on October 8, 2020; and
G. The BCUC has reviewed the submissions and determines that further process is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE for the reasons attached as Appendix A, the BCUC orders as follows:
1. BC Hydro is directed to file a supplementary submission with regard to a filing date for the 2021 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and a proposal for an interim filing of BC Hydro’s current planning context, 30 days after the Government of BC has been sworn-in and a Cabinet has been appointed. BC Hydro must also include an update on its 2021 IRP timeline at this time.
2. The BCUC will establish a further regulatory timetable to include further BC Hydro and intervener submissions upon swearing in of the Government of BC and appointment of a Cabinet.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 19th day of October 2020.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
D. M. Morton
Commissioner
Attachment
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
Long-Term Resource Plan Filing Date
REASONS FOR DECISION
1.0 Introduction
In 2013, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority’s (BC Hydro) previous long-term resource plan, or Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), was approved by the Government of BC, at which time BC Hydro’s long term resource plans were not subject to British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) review.
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 BCUC in the form and at the times the BCUC requires. Section 44.1(2.1) of the UCA states that BC Hydro need not file a long-term resource plan before February 28, 2021.
By Order G-205-20 dated July 30, 2020, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for the review of the BC Hydro long-term resource plan filing date and ordered that by August 20, 2020, BC Hydro submit to the BCUC, with rationale:
1. the date by which BC Hydro will file its next long-term resource plan; and
2. 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.
By letter dated August 20, 2020, BC Hydro provided its submission in response to this directive (BC Hydro Proposal).
The following parties registered as interveners in this proceeding:
• Association of Major Power Customers of British Columbia (AMPC);
• British Columbia Community Solar Coalition (BCCSC);
• British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO);
• BC Sustainable Energy Association and Sierra Club (BCSEA);
• Clean Energy Association of BC (CEABC);
• Coastal First Nations/Great Bear Initiative (CFN-GBI);
• Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC);
• Edlira Gjoshe (Gjoshe);
• David Ince (Ince);
• Movement of United Professionals (MOVEUP);
• Surplus Energy Match Inc.
By September 3, 2020, interveners filed their submissions on the BC Hydro Proposal. On September 17, 2020, BC Hydro filed its reply submission.
2.0 BC Hydro Request to Suspend Proceeding
By letter dated September 25, 2020, BC Hydro requests that the BCUC suspend the proceeding until 30 days after the Government of BC has been sworn-in and a Cabinet has been appointed. At that time, BC Hydro requests to have the opportunity to supplement its previous submissions with regard to a filing date for the 2021 IRP and a proposal for an interim filing of BC Hydro’s current planning context. BC Hydro submits that it has received guidance from the Government of BC advising that public communications, by Crown Corporations, during the election period, should be limited to public health and safety and statutory communications only. In addition, BC Hydro expects that regardless of the outcome of the election, government may have input with regard to the 2021 IRP that should be considered in this proceeding.[1]
By letter dated October 1, 2020, the BCUC requests that BC Hydro:
• Clarify whether as a result of the suspended engagement efforts, BC Hydro considers that the proposed filing date for the 2021 IRP of September 2021 is now in jeopardy; and
• File an updated estimate of the BC Hydro 2021 IRP timeline, if the schedule has been affected. If the schedule remains the same, BC Hydro is requested to file a higher resolution version of the BC Hydro 2021 IRP timeline filed as Attachment 1 to Exhibit B-2.
The BCUC also invited interveners to make further submissions.[2]
In response to the BCUC’s requests, BC Hydro submits the suspension of engagement efforts does impact the schedule for filing the 2021 IRP, because BC Hydro cannot develop a draft IRP for further consultation until the first phase of consultation is complete. Accordingly, unless BC Hydro’s planned engagement efforts are reduced, it will not be possible to meet a September 2021 filing date. Further, BC Hydro says that any updated estimated timeline would be speculative and unreliable.[3]
Position of the Parties
Most interveners support or do not oppose BC Hydro’s proposal to suspend the proceeding.[4]
CEABC understands the uncertainty that the election may be causing in formulating the 2021 IRP, but says that consultation must be immediately recommenced on October 26, 2020, the first business day after the Election Day. CEABC submits the election period is only one month long, and there is no reason why BC Hydro cannot make-up this amount of time over a year-long IRP consultation and preparation period and still be able to meet a September 2021 filing date.[5]
BCCSC does not support a delay in public consultation and disagrees with BC Hydro that making a timeline at this time would be speculative and unreliable.[6]
BC Hydro submits that CEABC and BCCSC misstate BC Hydro’s request and the purpose of this proceeding (to conduct a review of the filing date for BC Hydro’s 2021 IRP). BC Hydro has not requested, and it would not be appropriate for this proceeding to provide, any direction with regard to the timing of BC Hydro’s engagement efforts to develop the 2021 IRP.[7]
Panel Determination
The Panel directs BC Hydro to file a supplementary submission with regard to a filing date for the 2021 IRP and a proposal for an interim filing of BC Hydro’s current planning context, 30 days after the Government of BC has been sworn-in and a Cabinet has been appointed. BC Hydro must also include an update on its 2021 IRP timeline at this time. This timeline should include, but not be limited to, an update on BC Hydro’s timeline for consultation activities.
The Panel acknowledges the concerns of CEABC and BCCSC regarding the delay to engagement efforts for the IRP. However, the Panel considers that in the circumstances, it is more appropriate to make a determination on the filing date for the 2021 IRP when BC Hydro has updated its timeline to account for the impacts of the election. The Panel expects that BC Hydro’s next submission should include an update on the recommencement of engagement activities for the IRP.
Upon swearing in of the Government of BC and appointment of a Cabinet, the BCUC will establish a further regulatory timetable which will include an updated BC Hydro submission 30 days from that date, followed by intervener submissions and BC Hydro reply.