Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-90-25

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Ladore Spillway Seismic Upgrade Project and Strathcona Discharge Upgrade Project

BEFORE:

A.K. Fung, KC, Panel Chair

E.A. Brown, Commissioner

on April 4, 2025

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On June 14, 2023, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application (Application) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) pursuant to section 44.2(3) of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) for acceptance of each of the schedules of capital expenditures BC Hydro anticipates making for implementation of the Ladore Spillway Seismic Upgrade Project (Ladore Project) and the Strathcona Discharge Upgrade Project (Strathcona Project) (together, the Projects);

B.      The Ladore and Strathcona facilities form part of the Campbell River System, which comprises dams, reservoirs, and generating facilities that are located along the Campbell River on Vancouver Island. BC Hydro submits the Projects are required to address dam safety deficiencies related to the Ladore and Strathcona facilities’ seismic withstand and water discharge capacity that could lead to overtopping and failure of the dams after an earthquake;

C.      By Order G-189-23 dated July 18, 2023, the BCUC established a written hearing process and a regulatory timetable. The regulatory timetable was subsequently amended by the following Orders: G-303-23 dated November 9, 2023; G-328-23 dated December 1, 2023; G-352-23 dated December 14, 2023; and G-25-24 dated January 30, 2024;

D.      On May 30, 2024, BC Hydro provided an updated cost estimate for the Ladore Project and stated it had not yet determined whether a similar cost update would be necessary for the Strathcona Project. BC Hydro requested that the regulatory process for the Ladore Project proceed independently to argument and the process to review the Strathcona Project be adjourned until BC Hydro has determined whether a cost update on the Strathcona Project will be necessary;

E.       By Order G-163-24, dated June 18, 2024, the BCUC established a further regulatory process for the review of the Ladore Project and adjourned the regulatory process for the Strathcona Project;

F.       By Order G-263-24, dated October 22, 2024, the BCUC accepted the expenditure schedule for the Ladore Project as being in the public interest;

G.      By Order G-278-24, dated October 31, 2024, and Order G-22-25, dated February 5, 2025, the BCUC directed BC Hydro to provide updates on the status of cost information for the Strathcona Project on or before January 31, 2025, and March 31, 2025, respectively;

H.      By letter dated March 27, 2025, BC Hydro stated its intent to submit updated cost information for the Strathcona Project by May 30, 2025. BC Hydro requested that the regulatory process for the Strathcona Project remain adjourned until that time; and

I.         The BCUC has reviewed the BC Hydro letter and considers that the following determinations are warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       The regulatory process for the Strathcona Project remains adjourned until May 30, 2025, or such earlier time as the BCUC may determine.

2.       A further regulatory process is established for the review of the Strathcona Project in accordance with the regulatory timetable as set out in Appendix A to this order.

3.       BC Hydro is directed to provide an evidentiary update for the Strathcona Project on or before May 30, 2025.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this          4^th          day of April 2025.

BY ORDER

Electronically signed by Anna Fung

A.K. Fung, KC

Commissioner

Attachment

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Strathcona Discharge Upgrade Project

* scope of IR No. 4 to be limited to a review of the evidentiary update for the Strathcona Project