Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-163-24

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Ladore Spillway Seismic Upgrade Project and Strathcona Discharge Upgrade Project

 

BEFORE:

A. K. Fung, KC, Panel Chair

W. M. Everett, KC, Commissioner

M. Kresivo, KC, Commissioner

 

 

on June 18, 2024

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On June 14, 2023, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) pursuant to Section 44.2(3) of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) for acceptance of each of the schedules of capital expenditures BC Hydro anticipates making for implementation of the Ladore Spillway Seismic Upgrade Project (Ladore Project) and the Strathcona Discharge Upgrade Project (Strathcona Project) (together, the Projects) and a determination that making the expenditures for the Projects is in the public interest (Application);

B.      The Ladore and Strathcona facilities form part of the Campbell River System, which comprises dams, reservoirs, and generating facilities that are located along the Campbell River on Vancouver Island. BC Hydro submits the Projects are required to address dam safety deficiencies related to the Ladore and Strathcona facilities’ seismic withstand and water discharge capacity that could lead to overtopping and failure of the dams;

C.      By Order G-189-23 dated July 18, 2023, the BCUC established a written hearing process and a regulatory timetable. The regulatory timetable was subsequently amended by Order G-303-23 dated November 9, 2023, and by Order G-328-23 dated December 1, 2023; 

D.      By letter dated December 12, 2023, BC Hydro requested an adjournment in the proceeding pending a status update on cost information for the Projects. By Order G-352-23, dated December 14, 2023, the BCUC adjourned the proceeding, and directed BC Hydro to provide an update on Project cost information on or before January 25, 2024;

E.       On January 25, 2024, BC Hydro submitted its intent to prepare an updated cost estimate for the Ladore Project. The BCUC further adjourned the proceeding by Order G-25-24, dated January 30, 2024 and directed BC Hydro to provide an update on the status of Project cost information for the Projects on or before May 31, 2024;

F.       On May 30, 2024, BC Hydro provided an updated Project Cost Estimate for the Ladore Project and stated it has not yet determined if a similar update is necessary for the Strathcona Project. BC Hydro requests that the regulatory process for the Ladore Project proceed independently to argument and the process to review the Strathcona Project be adjourned until BC Hydro can determine whether a cost update on the Strathcona Project is required;

G.      BC Hydro further requests that certain specified information in the updated Project Cost Estimate for the Ladore Project (Confidential Information) be held confidential pursuant to Part IV of the BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure on the basis it is commercially sensitive in nature; and

H.      The BCUC has reviewed the information from BC Hydro and finds that the following determinations are warranted.

 

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       A further regulatory process is established for the review of the Ladore Project in accordance with the regulatory timetable as set out in Appendix A to this order.

2.       BC Hydro is directed to provide an update on the status of Project cost information for the Strathcona Project on or before October 31, 2024.

3.       The regulatory process for the Strathcona Project is adjourned pending an update on the status of Project cost information pursuant to Directive 2 above.

4.       The Confidential Information will remain confidential until the BCUC determines otherwise.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this         18^th          day of June 2024.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

A. K. Fung, KC

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

 

 

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Ladore Spillway Seismic Upgrade Project