ORDER NUMBER
R-14-24
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
British Columbia Utilities Commission
Mandatory Reliability Standards Planning Coordinator
Function Registration and Planning Coordinator Issues
BEFORE:
A. K. Fung, KC, Panel Chair
C. M. Brewer, Commissioner
W. M. Everett, KC, Commissioner
on May 21, 2024
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. By Order R-8-22 dated March 14, 2022, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) established a regulatory timetable for a proceeding to review the Planning Coordinator (PC) Function Registration and Planning Coordinator Issues raised by the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) and interveners registered in the currently adjourned MRS Planning Coordinator Assessment Report proceeding for Reliability Standards applicable to the PC function;
B. FortisBC Inc. (FBC), BC Hydro, Movement of United Professionals (MOVEUP), Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC), Residential Consumer Intervener Association (RCIA) and Cape Scott Wind LP (CSWLP) have registered as interveners (collectively Interveners) in the PC Function Registration and PC Issues proceeding;
C. By Order R-56-23, the BCUC established a further regulatory timetable for this proceeding with proposals from Registered Transmission Planners in the Mandatory Reliability Standards (MRS) Program on implementation of one or more PCs for the province and Intervener comment on those proposals;
D. On April 2, 2024, FBC and BC Hydro filed proposals recommending a multiple PC model in which FBC and BC Hydro are responsible for their own Bulk Electric System (BES) assets (Multiple PC Model). To facilitate this model, FBC and BC Hydro have agreed on various high-level principles and mandates by which a PC should act and propose establishment of a working group to coordinate transmission planning activities and discuss any issues that arise on an ongoing basis;
E. By May 1, 2024, RCIA, FBC, CEC and BC Hydro filed comments on the Multiple PC Model; and
F. The BCUC has reviewed the written submissions and proposals filed by BC Hydro and FBC on April 2, 2024, and considers establishing a further regulatory timetable is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 125.2(10) of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders the establishment of 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 21st day of May 2024.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
A. K. Fung, KC
Commissioner
Attachment
British Columbia Utilities Commission
Mandatory Reliability Standards Planning Coordinator
Function Registration and Planning Coordinator Issues
REGULATORY TIMETABLE
Action |
Date (2024) |
BCUC Information Request (IR) No. 2 to WECC |
Friday, May 24 |
Intervener IR No. 2, if any, to WECC |
Friday, May 31 |
WECC responses to BCUC and Intervener IR No. 2 |
Wednesday, June 12 |
BCUC IR No. 1 to Registered Transmission Planners |
Thursday, June 20 |
Intervener IR No. 1, if any, to Registered Transmission Planners |
Thursday, June 27 |
Registered Transmission Planners’ responses to BCUC and Intervener IR No. 1 |
Tuesday, July 9 |
Further process |
To be determined |