Orders

ORDER NUMBER

R-3-25

 

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 March 12, 2025

 

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 13 reliability standards and four glossary terms applicable to the PC function (PC Assessment Report) which are currently held in abeyance in British Columbia (BC);

B.      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 entities registered in the MRS Program (Entities) for letters of comment;

C.      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);

D.      By Order R-4-22, the BCUC adjourned the current proceeding and recommended that the BCUC initiate a separate proceeding regarding the issues related to the PC function in BC;

E.       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;

F.       By Order R-24-24, the BCUC restarted the PC Assessment Report proceeding and directed BC Hydro to file an updated PC Assessment Report;

G.      On February 28, 2025, BC Hydro filed a new PC Assessment Report assessing 14 reliability standards and four glossary terms applicable to the PC function (2025 PC Assessment Report);

H.      Pursuant to section 125.2(5) of the UCA, if the BCUC receives a report under section 125.2(3) of the UCA, the BCUC must make the report available to the public in a reasonable manner, and for a reasonable period of time and consider any comments in response to the report; and

I.         The BCUC determines that a further regulatory timetable is warranted for the review of the 2025 PC Assessment Report.

 

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       A further regulatory timetable is established as set out in Appendix A of this order.

2.       BC Hydro is directed to have the 2025 PC Assessment Report available on its external website and notify all Entities of the review process by providing them with a copy of this order and/or the link on the BCUC’s website by Monday, March 17, 2025.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this        12^th       day of March 2025.

 

BY ORDER

 

Electronically signed by Anna Fung

 

A. K. Fung, KC

Commissioner

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Mandatory Reliability Standard Planning Coordinator Assessment Report

Addressing Reliability Standards for Adoption in British Columbia