Orders

ORDER NUMBER

R-24-24

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Mandatory Reliability Standard Planning Coordinator Assessment Report

 

BEFORE:

A. K. Fung, KC, Panel Chair

C. M. Brewer, Commissioner

W. M. Everett, KC, Commissioner

 

on November 25, 2024

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On May 31, 2021, pursuant to section 125.2(3) of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) a Mandatory Reliability Standards (MRS) Planning Coordinator (PC) report assessing 12 reliability standards and one retired reliability standard (PC Assessment Report). All the reliability standards assessed in the PC Assessment Report are related to the PC function and are currently held in abeyance in British Columbia (BC). In the PC Assessment Report, BC Hydro also assessed four defined terms in the North American Electric Reliability Corporation Glossary of Terms dated October 8, 2020 (NERC Glossary) that are currently held in abeyance in BC;

B.       On June 25, 2021, BC Hydro filed its proposed plan for implementation of the PC function and anticipated timing for registering as the PC, and engaged other entities interconnected (Interconnected Entities) to the BC Hydro system (Implementation Approach);

C.       By Order R-15-21, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for the review of the PC Assessment Report which included, among other things, intervener registration and an invitation to the public and registered entities (Registered Entities) to comment on the PC Assessment Report and Implementation Approach;

D.      The Residential Consumer Intervener Association (RCIA), FortisBC Inc. (FBC) and the British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization, Active Support Against Poverty, Disability Alliance BC, Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of BC and Tenants Resources and Advisory Centre (BCOAPO) registered as interveners (collectively, Interveners) and filed letters of comment (Letters of Comment);

E.       By Order R-20-21, the BCUC issued an amended regulatory timetable. The BCUC sought additional submissions from the public and Interveners on the following (Assessment Report Questions):

1.       Whether the reliability standards assessed in the PC Assessment Report should be adopted at this time, pending determination of which Registered Entities should be or are registered for the PC function in BC;

2.       If the reliability standards in the PC Assessment Report should be adopted at this time, the recommended effective date(s) of those standards; and

3.       Further process, with supporting reasons, for the review of the Implementation Approach.

F.       On September 24, 2021, Interveners filed responses to the Assessment Report Questions;

G.      On October 8, 2021, BC Hydro filed its reply to the Letters of Comment and the Assessment Report Questions. In BC Hydro’s reply, it recommended suspension of the PC Assessment Report proceeding and establishment of a new proceeding to address issues related to the PC function in BC (PC Issues);

H.      By Order R-24-21, the BCUC sought public and Registered Entity submissions on whether the PC Assessment Report proceeding should be suspended and a new proceeding should be established;

I.         On November 1, 2021, Interveners filed submissions pursuant to Order R-24-21. BCOAPO and FBC agreed that the BCUC should suspend the PC Assessment Report proceeding and establish a new proceeding to further investigate and address the PC issues. On November 8, 2021, BC Hydro filed its reply to these submissions;

J.        By Order R-4-22, the BCUC adjourned the current proceeding and recommended the BCUC initiate a separate proceeding regarding the PC Issues;

K.       On February 24, 2022, the BCUC initiated a proceeding to review the PC registration and PC Issues (PC Registration and PC Issues Proceeding). By Order R-23-24 and its accompanying decision, the BCUC determined that BC Hydro and FBC would be registered as PCs for the Province;

L.        By Orders R-34-22A1, R-44-23 and R-19-24, respectively, the BCUC held in abeyance, as recommended by BC Hydro, adoption of reliability standards applicable to PCs due to the ongoing PC Registration and PC Issues Proceeding; and

M.    The BCUC has reviewed the evidentiary record and the decision accompanying Order R-23-24 and considers that restarting this MRS PC Assessment Report proceeding is warranted.

 

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       The MRS PC Assessment Report proceeding will proceed according to the regulatory timetable established in Appendix A of this order.

2.       BC Hydro is directed to file an updated PC Assessment Report that includes reliability standards and NERC Glossary terms applicable to the PC function that have been held in abeyance since May 21, 2021 by February 28, 2025.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this         25^th       day of November 2024.

 

BY ORDER

 

Electronically signed by Anna Fung

 

A. K. Fung, KC

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Mandatory Reliability Standard Planning Coordinator Assessment Report