Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-287-21

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Application for Mandatory Reliability Standards Costs Regulatory Account for Fiscal 2022

BEFORE:

R. I. Mason, Panel Chair

D. M. Morton, Commissioner

on October 1, 2021

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On August 31, 2021, the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) seeking approval of the establishment of a new regulatory account for Mandatory Reliability Standards (MRS) unplanned costs and the recovery of the fiscal 2022 actual costs, including interest, of the account in rates, effective fiscal 2023 (Application);

B.      In the Application, BC Hydro requests that a confidential appendix containing information on various unplanned activities and their costs related to MRS (Confidential Appendix) be made available only to the BCUC. BC Hydro states that information related to the protection of cyber infrastructure is highly security-sensitive, and the release of this information to the public could compromise the safety and reliability of the Bulk Electric System (BES). Additionally, BC Hydro states that under the BCUC MRS Rules of Procedure, including the Compliance Monitoring Program and Penalty Guidelines, there remains a presumption of confidentiality over certain information, especially where the subject matter relates to a cyber security incident or may otherwise jeopardize the security of the BES; and

C.      The BCUC has determined that a regulatory timetable is warranted for the review of the confidentiality of the Confidential Appendix.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders a confidential and transcribed in camera session attended by the Panel, BCUC staff and legal counsel, and BC Hydro staff and legal counsel, for the review of the confidentiality of the Confidential Appendix will be held on Thursday, October 7, 2021, commencing at 1 p.m., in accordance with the regulatory timetable as set out in Appendix A to this Order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this                 1^st             day of October 2021.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

R. I. Mason

Commissioner

Attachment

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Application for Mandatory Reliability Standards Costs Regulatory Account for Fiscal 2022

*To be held virtually over Microsoft Teams commencing at 1 p.m. Pacific Time. Active participation will be limited to the BCUC and BC Hydro. Further details regarding the in camera session to follow.