ORDER NUMBER
C-4-22
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
for the Mainwaring Substation Upgrade Project
BEFORE:
A. K. Fung, QC, Panel Chair
E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner
A. Pape-Salmon, Commissioner
on August 16, 2022
CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY
WHEREAS:
A. On November 5, 2021, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) pursuant to section 45 and 46 of the Utilities Commission Act seeking a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for the Mainwaring substation upgrade project (Application);
B. In the Application, BC Hydro proposes to replace two power transformers, a feeder section and associated equipment at the Mainwaring distribution substation (Project) and states that the expected cost of the Project is $114.4 million;
C. By Orders G-347-21, G-353-21, and G-64-22 dated November 26, 2021, December 2, 2021 and March 4, 2022, respectively, the BCUC established and amended the regulatory timetable for the review of the Application, which included public notification, filing of confirmation of compliance with public notification directives, two rounds of BCUC and Intervener information requests, letters of comment submissions and final and reply arguments;
D. By January 7, 2022, British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al., Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia and the Residential Consumer Intervener Association registered as interveners in the proceeding; and
E. The BCUC has considered the Application, evidence and submissions in this proceeding and finds that public convenience and necessity require that the Project proceed and the following determinations to be warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to sections 45 to 46 of the Utilities Commission Act and for the reasons set out in the Decision issued concurrently with this order, the BCUC orders as follows:
1. A CPCN is granted to BC Hydro for the Project.
2. BC Hydro is directed to file Project reports as outlined in Appendix A to the Decision.
3. BC Hydro is directed to comply with all the directives outlined in the Decision issued concurrently with this order.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 16th day of August 2022.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
A. K. Fung, QC
Commissioner