Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-282-23

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Electricity Purchase Agreement Renewals for Sechelt Creek, Brown Lake,
Pingston Creek, Miller Creek, Rutherford Creek and Mears Creek

 

BEFORE:

B. A. Magnan, Chair

E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner

 

on October 19, 2023

 

ORDER 

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On May 1, 2023, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) an application, pursuant to section 71 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), to accept for filing the following electricity purchase agreements (EPA) (Filing):

1.          An EPA effective February 1, 2023, between BC Hydro and MPT Hydro LP for the Sechelt Creek run-of-river hydroelectric project for a term of 20 years (Sechelt Creek 2023 EPA); and

2.          An EPA effective March 3, 2023, between BC Hydro and Brown Miller Power Limited Partnership for the Brown Lake storage hydroelectric project for a term of 20 years (Brown Lake 2023 EPA);

B.      By Order G-153-23 dated June 16, 2023, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for review of the Application, which included one round of information requests (IRs) and further process to be determined;

C.      By letter dated June 23, 2023, BC Hydro requested that the Pingston Creek, Miller Creek, Rutherford Creek and Mears Creek EPA renewals be reviewed as part of the Sechelt EPA and Brown Lake EPA proceeding and requested to amend the regulatory timetable established pursuant to Order G-153-23 to include time to submit the Pingston Creek, Miller Creek, Rutherford Creek and Mears Creek EPAs and to provide an update on the cost effectiveness of the Sechelt EPA and Brown EPA;

D.      By Order G-163-23 dated June 27, 2023, the BCUC accepted BC Hydro’s request and amended the Regulatory Timetable;

E.       On July 6, 2023, BC Hydro filed the Pingston Creek, Miller Creek, Rutherford Creek and Mears Creek EPAs as well as updates to the cost effectiveness of the Sechelt Creek EPA and Brown Lake EPA;

F.       On August 9, 2023, the BCUC issued Information Request (IR) No. 1 to BC Hydro;

G.      On August 16, 2023, registered interveners BC Old Age Pensioners’ Organization (BCOAPO) and Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC) issued Intervener IR No. 1 to BC Hydro;

H.      On September 27, 2023, BC Hydro submitted its responses to BCUC and Intervener IRs No. 1; and

I.         The BCUC has reviewed BC Hydro’s responses and determines that establishing a further regulatory timetable is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC establishes a further regulatory timetable, as set out in Appendix A to this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this        19^th        day of October 2023. 

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

B. A. Magnan

Commissioner

 

Attachment

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Electricity Purchase Agreement Renewals for Sechelt Creek, Brown Lake,
Pingston Creek, Miller Creek, Rutherford Creek and Mears Creek