Orders

ORDER NUMBER

R-20-24

 

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 July 30, 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;

F.       By Order R-14-24, the BCUC established a further regulatory timetable including Information Request No. 2 to the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) from the BCUC and Interveners (IR No. 2) and Information Request No. 1 to registered Transmission Planners (IR No. 1 to TPs) from the BCUC and Interveners;

G.      On May 24 and May 31, 2024, the BCUC and CEC issued IR No. 2 to WECC;

H.      By Order R-16-24, the BCUC issued an amended regulatory timetable approving an extension request from WECC to file its responses to IR No. 2 from June 12, 2024 to July 8, 2024;

I.         On July 8, 2024, WECC filed its responses to IR No. 2;

J.        On July 15, 2024, the BCUC issued IR No. 1 to TPs to BC Hydro and FBC;

K.       On July 29, 2024, BC Hydro filed an extension request to file its responses to IR No. 1 to TPs from August 1, 2024 to August 9, 2024;

L.       On July 30, 2024, FBC filed a letter supporting BC Hydro’s extension request and also requesting an extension to file its responses to IR No. 1 to TPs to August 9, 2024; and

M.    The BCUC has reviewed BC Hydro and FBC’s extension requests and considers establishing an amended regulatory timetable is warranted.

 

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 125.2(10) of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC amends the regulatory timetable as set out in Appendix A to this order.

 

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this          30^th         day of July 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