Orders

 

ORDER NUMBER

G-187-24

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

for the 1L243 Transmission Load Increase (Highland Valley Copper) Project

 

BEFORE:

M. Jaccard, Panel Chair

E. A. Brown, Commissioner

 

on July 11, 2024

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On May 23, 2024, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) pursuant to sections 45 and 46 of the Utilities Commission Act for the 1L243 Transmission Load Increase (Highland Valley Copper) Project (Project) (Application);

B.      In the Application, BC Hydro seeks a CPCN to upgrade the transmission infrastructure that supports Teck Resource Limited’s (Teck) Highland Valley Copper operations, to accommodate Teck’s request for an increase in its contract demand from 146 MVA to 180 MVA. The Project consists of the following activities:

a.       Supply and install a 300 MVA 230/138 kV/12.6 kV transformer at Nicola substation;

b.       Reconductor transmission line 1L243 to increase its capacity and replace or reinforce structures where required;

c.       Upgrade the disconnect switches and wire/cable infrastructure at the Highland substation; and

d.       Construct a new line tap to connect Teck’s Bethlehem substation to transmission line 1L055 at Teck’s expense and under BC Hydro’s supervision;

C.      By Order G-156-24, dated June 7, 2024, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for review of the Application, which included notice of the Application, intervener registration, BCUC and intervener information requests (IRs), BC Hydro responses to IRs, and final and reply arguments;

D.      On July 3, 2024, the BCUC issued BCUC IR No. 1 to BC Hydro;

E.    The Panel has granted intervener status to the following parties in the proceeding:

a.       British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO);

b.       Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (the CEC);

c.       Mr. C. Parkinson;

d.       Residential Consumer Intervener Association (RCIA);

e.       Teck Hyland Valley Copper;

f.        The Lower Nicola Indian Band; and

g.       The Nlakapamux Nation Tribal Council;

F.       The BCUC considers an amendment to the regulatory timetable and direction regarding intervener information requests is warranted. 

 

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       The regulatory timetable is amended as set out in Appendix A to this order.

2.       With respect to Intervener IR No. 1 to BC Hydro:

a.       Mr. C. Parkinson, Teck Hyland Valley Copper, the Lower Nicola Indian Band, and the Nlakapamux Nation Tribal Council are limited to a maximum of 30 questions each, inclusive of sub-questions.

b.       BCOAPO, the CEC and RCIA are limited to a maximum of 30 questions collectively, inclusive of
sub-questions, and are to file their IRs jointly as one submission.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this      11^th     day of July 2024.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

M. Jaccard

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
for the 1L243 Transmission Load Increase (Highland Valley Copper) Project