ORDER NUMBER
G-267-24
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority Application for
Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity for the Bridge River Projects
BEFORE:
C. M. Brewer, Commissioner
A. C. Dennier, Commissioner
on October 23, 2024
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On July 23, 2021, 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 (UCA) for the Bridge River 1 Units 1 to 4 Generator Replacement Project (BR1 Project) and a CPCN for the Bridge River Transmission Project (BRT Project) (together, Application);
B. In the Application, BC Hydro requests approval for:
a. The BR1 Project to replace aging generating equipment within the Bridge River 1 Generating Station; and
b. The BRT Project to increase the maximum capacity of the 2L90 circuit and to refurbish existing circuit infrastructure;
C. In the Application, BC Hydro requests that certain information in the Application and several Appendices be held confidential due to the commercially sensitive nature of the information, in accordance with Part IV of the BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. BC Hydro requests confidentiality for errata to the Application and certain confidential Appendices, along with responses to confidential Information Requests (IRs) (together, Confidential Information);
D. On October 11, 2022, by Decision and Order C-6-22, the BCUC granted BC Hydro a CPCN for the BR1 Project subject to certain conditions consistent with BC Hydro’s commitments to the St’at’imc Nation;
E. On October 17, 2024, BC Hydro filed a letter requesting confidential treatment of certain information provided in its response to BCUC Information Request (IR) No. 3. In its letter, BC Hydro explains that certain confidential and sensitive information was unintentionally filed publicly, specifically in response to BCUC IRs 3.61.1; 3.61.2; 3.61.3; and 3.61.3.2;
F. In its October 17, 2024 letter, BC Hydro also states it has identified the confidential information in the Commercial Energy Consumer’s (the CEC) Final Argument on the BR1 Project and requests the BCUC direct the CEC to provide a redacted version of its final argument; and
G. The BCUC has reviewed BC Hydro’s letter and considers the following determinations are warranted.
NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:
1. BC Hydro’s response to BCUC IRs 3.61.1; 3.61.2; 3.61.3; and 3.61.3.2 will be held confidential until the BCUC determines otherwise.
2. BC Hydro is directed to re-file Exhibit B-15 and Exhibit B-15-1.
3. The CEC is directed to file a redacted version of its final argument on the BR1 Project dated July 6, 2022 as soon as practicable.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 23rd day of October 2024.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
C. M. Brewer
Commissioner