Orders

ORDER NUMBER

R-6-23

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Mandatory Reliability Standard Compliance Implementation Request to review Powell River Energy Inc.
and Catalyst Paper Powell River Division's Registration Change

 

BEFORE:

E. B. Lockhart, Panel Chair

B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

W. M. Everett, KC, Commissioner

 

on February 17, 2023

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On December 23, 2022, the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed a letter requesting approval of implementation periods to enable BC Hydro to undertake the changes to its compliance program made necessary as a result of the registration of Catalyst Paper Powell River Division (CPPR) as Transmission Owner (TO) and Transmission Operator (TOP), and Powell River Energy INC. (PREI) as Generator Owner (GO) and Generator Operator (GOP). Further, BC Hydro seeks an order by the BCUC confirming that BC Hydro will not be required to demonstrate compliance with the Mandatory Reliability Standards identified with respect to requirements imposed on BC Hydro as Reliability Coordinator (RC), Balancing Authority (BA) and Transmission Planner (TOP) as they relate to PREI and/or CPPR as registered entities and/or in respect of BC Hydro’s 1L48 transmission line during the identified implementation period;

B.      Pursuant to section 125.2(2) of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), the BCUC has exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether a “reliability standard,” as defined in the UCA, is in the public interest and should be adopted in British Columbia (BC);

C.      By Order G-123-09, the BCUC appointed the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) as its Administrator for registration and monitoring compliance pursuant to section 8 of the UCA. WECC’s role as Administrator for the BC Mandatory Reliability Standards (MRS) Program is pursuant to the Administration Agreement between WECC and the BCUC dated October 8, 2009, and renewed on July 5, 2019;

D.      By Order G-128-10 dated August 5, 2010, BC Hydro was registered with the BC MRS Program as a Transmission Operator, Balancing Authority, Planning Authority, Transmission Planner, Transmission Service Provider, Transmission Owner, and Distribution Provider effective November 1, 2010;

E.       By Order R-40-17 dated September 1, 2017, the BCUC approved the most recent version of the Rules of Procedure for Reliability Standards in British Columbia (ROP), which includes Appendix 1: Registration Manual (ROP Registration Manual). The ROP Registration Manual establishes that every owner, operator and user of an element of the Bulk Electric System (BES), as that term is defined in the North American Electric Reliability Corporation Glossary of Terms and adopted by the BCUC, is a candidate for registration with the BC MRS Program;

F.       By Order G-199-19 dated August 23, 2019, BC Hydro was registered with the BC MRS Program as the RC for the province of British Columbia, effective September 2, 2019;

G.      By Order R-27-22 dated August 26, 2022, CPPR was registered with the BC MRS Program as a TO and TOP, effective May 31, 2021;

H.      By Order R-28-22 dated August 26, 2022, PREI was registered with the BC MRS Program as a GO and GOP, effective May 31, 2021; and

I.         The BCUC has reviewed BC Hydro’s letter and considers the approval of the requested implementation plan period and confirmation of BC Hydro’s compliance requirements is warranted.

 

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 125.2 (1) of the UCA, the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       The BCUC approves BC Hydro’s proposed implementation periods as specified in Appendix A of this Order enabling BC Hydro to undertake those activities within its compliance program to address the registration of CPPR as TO and TOP, and PREI as GO and GOP.

2.       The BCUC confirms that BC Hydro will not be required to demonstrate compliance with the Mandatory Reliability Standards identified with respect to requirements imposed on BC Hydro as RC, BA and TOP as they relate to PREI and/or CPPR as registered entities and/or in respect of BC Hydro’s 1L48 transmission line during the identified implementation periods as set out in Appendix A of this order. 

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this              17^th           day of February 2023.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

E. B. Lockhart

Commissioner

 

 

Table 1: Standards that impact BC Hydro as a Reliability Coordinator, Balancing Authority and Transmission Operator

 

 

 

Table 2 – Standards that impact BC Hydro’s transmission line 1L48