Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-17-22

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Application for Orders regarding the John Hart Dam Seismic Upgrade Project

 

BEFORE:

W. M. Everett, QC, Panel Chair

E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner

A. Pape-Salmon, Commissioner

 

on January 24, 2022

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On December 17, 2021, the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), pursuant to section 44.2(1)(b) of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), including a schedule of statement of capital expenditures BC Hydro has made or anticipates making during the period addressed by the schedule for implementation of the John Hart Dam Seismic Upgrade Project (Project) and seeking, pursuant to section 44.2(3) of the UCA, BCUC acceptance of the expenditure schedule as being in the public interest (Application);

B.      The Project is located at the existing John Hart Dam and Reservoir and John Hart Generating Station (John Hart Facility) on the Campbell River within the City of Campbell River boundaries on Vancouver Island. BC Hydro submits the proposed statement of capital expenditures will address deficiencies in the John Hart Facility related to its resistance to earthquake loading and operational reliability of its Spillway Gates Systems, and vulnerability to potential flow imbalance between the John Hart Dam and the upstream facility at Ladore Dam that could lead to the overtopping of the John Hart Dam;

C.      BC Hydro further seeks an order that certain specified information in the Application (Confidential Information) be held confidential by the BCUC pursuant to Section 18 of the BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure on the basis it is:

                     i.            commercially sensitive in nature and that significant harm or prejudice to BC Hydro’s competitive or negotiating position could reasonably be expected to result if the Confidential Information is made public;

                   ii.            contains security-sensitive and cyber-security information; and

                 iii.            contains personal information on BC Hydro project personnel; and

D.      The BCUC has commenced review of the Application and finds that a preliminary regulatory timetable is warranted.

 

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       A public hearing is established for the review of the Application in accordance with the regulatory timetable as set out in Appendix A to this order.

2.       On or before Thursday, February 10, 2022, BC Hydro must:

a.       publish the Public Notice, attached as Appendix B to this order, in print/display-ad format in appropriate news publications, such as but not limited to, local and community newspapers to provide adequate notice to those parties who may have an interest in or be affected by the Project.

b.       publish notice of this Application on its website and social media platforms.

c.       provide an electronic copy of the Application and this order to potentially affected Indigenous communities, including:

                                                   i.      We Wai Kai First Nation;

                                                 ii.      Wei Wai Kum First Nation;

                                               iii.      K’ómoks First Nation;

                                               iv.      Homalco First Nation.

d.       provide an electronic copy of the Application and this order to registered interveners in the John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project proceeding.

3.       Persons who wish to actively participate in this proceeding must complete a Request to Intervene form, available on the BCUC’s website, by Thursday, February 24, 2022 as established in the regulatory timetable attached as Appendix A to this order, and in accordance with the BCUC's Rules of Practice and Procedure.

4.       The Confidential Information will be held confidential until the BCUC determines otherwise.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this              24th             day of January 2022.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

W. M. Everett, QC

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

 

 

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Application for Orders regarding the John Hart Dam Seismic Upgrade Project

 

 

 

 

*To be held virtually commencing at 9 am. Active participation in the workshop, which will be transcribed, will be limited to BC Hydro, the BCUC and registered interveners; however, any party may follow the live broadcast. Further details regarding the workshop will be issued in due course.

 

 

 

 

BRITISH COLUMBIA HYDRO AND POWER AUTHORITY
APPLICATION FOR ORDERS REGARDING THE JOHN HART DAM
SEISMIC UPGRADE PROJECT

On December 17, 2021, the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), pursuant to section 44.2(1)(b) of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), including a schedule of statement of capital expenditures BC Hydro has made or anticipates making during the period addressed by the schedule for implementation of the John Hart Dam Seismic Upgrade Project (Project) and is seeking, pursuant to section 44.2(3) of the UCA, BCUC acceptance of the expenditure schedule as being in the public interest. The purpose of the Project is to address deficiencies in the John Hart Dam related to its resistance to earthquake loading and operational reliability of its Spillway Gates Systems, and vulnerability to potential flow imbalance between the John Hart Dam and the upstream facility at Ladore Dam that could lead to the overtopping of the John Hart Dam.

The BCUC has established a public hearing process to review the Application.

 

For more information on getting involved, please visit our website https://www.bcuc.com/GetInvolved/GetInvolvedProceeding contact us at the information below. To learn more about this Application, visit the Proceeding Webpage on bcuc.com.

GET MORE INFORMATION
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority 1600 – 333 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver, BC, V6B 5R3   E: bchydroregulatorygroup@bchydro.com   P: 604.623.4348	British Columbia Utilities Commission Suite 410, 900 Howe Street Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2N3   E: Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com   P: 604.660.4700