Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-132-23

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Request to Amend Major Capital Project Filing Guidelines

 

BEFORE:

A. K. Fung, KC, Panel Chair

A. C. Dennier, Commissioner

W. M. Everett, KC, Commissioner

 

on June 7, 2023

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On March 17, 2023, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) seeking to amend the major capital project filing guidelines (Application);

B.      On December 2, 2019, by Order G-313-19, the BCUC approved the 2018 Major Capital Project Filing Guidelines (2018 Guidelines), including BC Hydro’s commitment to submit applications to the BCUC for major capital projects with authorized cost estimates that exceed the following thresholds:

1.       $100 million for Power System projects;

2.       $50 million for Buildings projects; and

3.       $20 million for Information Technology projects.

C.      In the Application, BC Hydro seeks approval of:

                                 i.            An increase to the major capital filing thresholds, escalated annually by their respective price index for the previously completed calendar year, starting from fiscal 2019; and

                               ii.            BCUC confirmation that a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity is not required for Customer IPID 901943 Project.

D.      By Order G-113-23, dated May 9, 2023, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for review of the Application. By Order G-118-23, dated May 17, 2023, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable;

E.       On June 1, 2023, St’at’imc Chiefs Council (SCC) made a submission stating, among other things, that SCC only received written notice of the Application on May 25, 2023, and is therefore unable to review and consider the Application in a substantive manner. Therefore, SCC states it is unable to provide comment on whether or not they support the approvals sought;

F.       On June 2, 2023, BC Hydro made a submission stating that due to an internal miscommunication some parties received notification after the May 12, 2023 deadline. BC Hydro states it apologizes and supports amending the regulatory timetable to allow sufficient time for submissions. In the letter, BC Hydro states it has redacted some of the notified parties for reasons of commercial confidentiality and requests this information be held confidentially in perpetuity; and

G.      The BCUC has determined that an amendment to the regulatory timetable is warranted.

 

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       The regulatory timetable is amended as set out in Appendix A to this order;

2.       Persons who wish to file a submission, on topics detailed in the cover letter to Order G-113-23, may do so by Tuesday, June 20, 2023; and

3.       The redacted list of notified parties in Exhibit B-5-1 will be held confidentially until otherwise ordered by the BCUC.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this          7^th          day of June, 2023.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

A.K. Fung, KC

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

 

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Request to Amend Major Capital Project Filing Guidelines

 

 

 

* Please refer to the cover letter accompanying Exhibit A-2, Order G-113-23 for detailed information