Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-48-21

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Walden North Hydro Forbearance Agreement

BEFORE:

R. I. Mason, Panel Chair

C. Brewer, Commissioner

B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

on February 22, 2021

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On June 25, 2020, the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) a forbearance agreement between BC Hydro and Cayoose Creek Limited Partnership relating to the Walden North run‑of‑river hydroelectric project, pursuant to section 71 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) and in compliance with Directive 1 of Order G-148-20 (altogether, the Filing);

B.      By Order G-61-12, dated May 17, 2012, the BCUC established the Rules for Energy Supply Contracts (ESCs) for Electricity (Rules). The Rules are intended to facilitate the BCUC’s review of ESCs and proposed ESCs for electricity;

C.      By Order G-268-20, dated October 26, 2020, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for review of the Filing, which included one round of information requests (IR) and further process to be determined;

D.      By November 24, 2020, the BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA), Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC), and British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO) filed requests to intervene;

E.       On December 10, 2020, BC Hydro submitted public and confidential responses to BCUC and intervener IRs;

F.       By letter dated December 17, 2020, the BCUC issued a letter to registered interveners requesting comments on further process;

G.      By letters dated December 23 and 30, 2020, BCOAPO and BCSEA, respectively, submitted comments on further process. BCOAPO included in its filing both public and confidential submissions. In its submissions, BCOAPO recommended that an additional round of IRs be established;

H.      By Order G-3-21, dated January 7, 2021, the BCUC issued a further regulatory timetable allowing a second round of information requests;

I.         On January 29, 2021, BCOAPO and BCSEA issued public and confidential Intervener IR No. 2 to BC Hydro;

J.        On February 12, 2021, BC Hydro submitted public and confidential responses to Intervener IR No. 2; and

K.       Upon review of the submissions made to date, the BCUC determines that further regulatory process is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC establishes a further regulatory timetable as set out in Appendix A to this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this            22^nd              day of February 2021.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

R. I. Mason

Commissioner

Attachment

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Walden North Hydro Forbearance Agreement