Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-192-23

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Electrical Explosion Incident – Marine Building, Downtown Vancouver

 

BEFORE:

D. M. Morton, Commissioner

 

on July 21, 2023

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On February 24, 2023, an explosion and fire occurred in an underground electrical vault (Vault No. 73) owned and operated by the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro). Vault No. 73 is part of BC Hydro’s distribution network that supplies power to BC Hydro customers in the Vancouver downtown core and is located on the 300 block of Burrard Street;

 

B.      On June 22, 2023, BC Hydro filed the results of its investigation into the incident (Post-Incident Report) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC);

 

C.       On June 29, 2023, the BCUC issued a request for additional information pertaining to BC Hydro’s investigation and Post-Incident Report (Supplemental Information). Among other things, the BCUC requested that BC Hydro file any reports or documentation related to the safety of BC Hydro's distribution street vaults from 2016 onwards, and a copy of BC Hydro’s asset management policies and procedures for the past 15 years;

 

D.      On July 6, 2023, BC Hydro filed the Supplemental Information with the BCUC;

 

E.       Section 38 of the Utility Commission Act states that a public utility must provide and maintain its property and equipment in a condition to enable it to provide a service to the public that the BCUC considers is in all respects adequate, safe, efficient, just and reasonable;

 

F.       BC Hydro’s Post-Incident Report and Supplemental Information raise concerns regarding BC Hydro’s safety practices and culture; and

 

G.      Having reviewed the information filed to date, the BCUC considers that the following determinations are warranted.

 

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       BC Hydro is directed to file an independent third-party report investigating the root cause of the February 24, 2023 incident (Third-Party Report) including, but not limited to, the following areas of focus:

•         BC Hydro's culture of safety and compliance;

•         BC Hydro's asset management practices; and

•         BC Hydro's work procedures and quality control processes.

2.       BC Hydro shall submit the Third-Party Report and supporting deliverables to the BCUC by the deadlines set out below:

 

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this                21^st               day of July 2023.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

D. M. Morton

Commissioner