ORDER NUMBER
F-19-24
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
Participant Cost Award Application
BEFORE:
B. A. Magnan, Panel Chair
E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner
on March 25, 2024
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):
• 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
• 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 Filing;
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 Creek EPA and Brown Lake EPA;
D. By Orders G-163-23, G-231-23, G-282-23, and G-295-23, the BCUC accepted BC Hydro’s request and amended the Regulatory Timetable to include a deadline for BC Hydro to submit an updated Filing, one round of information requests, letters of comment, final and reply arguments;
E. The following parties registered as interveners in the proceeding:
• Adams Lake Indian Band;
• BC Old Age Pensioners’ Organization, Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of BC, Active Support Against Poverty, Disability Alliance BC, the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre, and Together Against Poverty Society (BCOAPO);
• Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC);
• Little Shuswap Lake First Nation; and
• Splatsin.
F. By Order G-50-24 and the attached Reasons for Decision dated February 27, 2024, the BCUC accepted the EPAs for filing;
G. The following participants filed Participant Cost Award (PCA) applications with the BCUC with respect to their participation in the proceeding:
Date |
Participant |
Application |
January 8, 2024 |
CEC |
$11,595.02 |
March 5, 2024 |
BCOAPO |
$13,695.27 |
H. By letter dated March 18, 2024, BC Hydro provided its comments on the PCA applications, stating that it has reviewed the PCA applications and believes that both interveners contributed to the BCUC’s understanding of the issues in this proceeding and that it has no objections to the interveners receiving the amounts requested; and
I. The BCUC has reviewed the PCA applications in accordance with the criteria and rates set out in the Rules of Practice and Procedure, attached to BCUC Order G-72-23 dated April 3, 2023, and concludes that cost awards in the requested amounts should be approved.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders as follows:
1. Costs are awarded to the following participants in the listed amounts for their participation in the proceeding:
Participant |
Award |
CEC |
$11,595.02 |
BCOAPO |
$13,695.27 |
2. BC Hydro is directed to reimburse the respective participants for the awarded amounts in a timely manner.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 25th day of March 2024.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
B. A. Magnan
Commissioner