ORDER NUMBER
G-58-24
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
2021 Integrated Resource Plan
BEFORE:
M. Jaccard, Panel Chair
C. M. Brewer, Commissioner
T. A. Loski, Commissioner
on March 6, 2024
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On December 21, 2021, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed its 2021 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Application (Application), pursuant to section 44.1 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) and in accordance with Order G-28-21 dated January 27, 2021;
B. By Orders G-15-22, G-71-22, G-118-22, G-129-22, G-151-22, G-227-22, G-250-22, G-333-22, G-75-23,
G-116-23, G-129-23, G-200-23, G-220-23, G-260-23, and G-291-23, the BCUC established and amended regulatory timetables for the review of the Application. The regulatory process included: two rounds of information requests (IRs); a procedural conference; filing of intervener evidence, and IRs on same:
BC Hydro rebuttal evidence, and IRs on same; updates to intervener evidence; an oral hearing regarding
BC Hydro’s load forecast scenarios: a workshop regarding New Energy Acquisitions; and written final argument from BC Hydro and interveners and reply argument from BC Hydro;
C. On June 15, 2023, BC Hydro filed the Signposts Update and Updated 2021 IRP;
D. BC Hydro seeks the following approvals:
1. Acceptance of the Updated 2021 IRP pursuant to section 44.1(6) of the UCA;
2. The Contingency Resource Plans and high load scenarios of BC Hydro’s Updated 2021 IRP be approved for inclusion in BC Hydro’s Network Integration Transmission Services (NITS) update under BC Hydro’s Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT);
3. Acceptance of BC Hydro’s proposal to file long-term resource plans approximately 18 months after the BCUC decision on the prior plan; and
E. The BCUC has reviewed the evidence and arguments filed in this proceeding, and makes the following determinations.
NOW THEREFORE for the reasons outlined in the Decision issued concurrently with this order, the BCUC orders as follows:
1. Pursuant to section 44.1(6) of the UCA, BC Hydro’s Updated 2021 IRP is accepted.
2. Pursuant to section 44.1(9) of the UCA, the following matters are conclusively determined for BC Hydro for the purposes of any future hearing or proceeding to be conducted by the BCUC under the UCA:
a. That there is a need for BC Hydro to acquire approximately 3,000 GWh of clean or renewable energy from greenfield generation facilities in the province for delivery to BC Hydro as early as fiscal 2029; and
b. That there is a need for BC Hydro to acquire approximately 700 GWh of clean or renewable energy from existing generation facilities in the province for delivery to BC Hydro prior to fiscal 2029.
3. BC Hydro is approved to include the Contingency Resource Plans and high load scenarios of BC Hydro’s Updated 2021 IRP in BC Hydro’s NITS update under the OATT.
4. BC Hydro is directed to file its next long-term resource plan with the BCUC no later than October 31, 2025, unless otherwise ordered by the BCUC.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 6th day of March 2024.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
M. Jaccard
Commissioner