ORDER NUMBER
R-4-25
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
ARC Resources Ltd.
Change in Registration Footprint with the Mandatory Reliability Standards Program
BEFORE:
E. A. Brown, Commissioner
A. K. Fung, KC, Commissioner
on May 5, 2025
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On February 7, 2025, the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC), acting as the Administrator for the British Columbia Mandatory Reliability Standards Program (BC MRS Program), issued a Recommendation for Change of Registration Footprint of ARC Resources Ltd. (ARC), effective October 18, 2024 (Recommendation). WECC states that the Recommendation is consistent with what WECC would determine in the U.S.;
B. Section 125.2 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) assigns exclusive jurisdiction to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) to determine whether a “reliability standard,” as defined in the UCA, is in the public interest and should be adopted in British Columbia. On June 4, 2009, the BCUC issued Order G-67-09 specifying that Entities subject to reliability standards must register with the BCUC;
C. In accordance with the Administration Agreement between WECC and the BCUC, dated September 8, 2009 and most recently renewed on July 2, 2024, WECC makes registration recommendations in its role as the BCUC’s Administrator for the BC MRS Program;
D. By Order R-40-17, the BCUC approved the most recent version of the Rules of Procedure for Reliability Standards in British Columbia, which includes a Registration Manual in Appendix 1 (Registration Manual). Pursuant to section 2.3 of the Registration Manual, an Entity must notify the Administrator in writing of any change in circumstances that affects the Entity’s registration;
E. By Order R-6-19, the BCUC approved the registration of ARC for the reliability function of Distribution Provider under the BC MRS Program;
F. On October 16, 2023, ARC submitted an anticipated 2024 footprint change request to WECC to reflect the addition of the new substation, Attachie-West. The new substation began operation on October 18, 2024, and is the first in a three-phase station loading approach for a total of 30 megawatts (MW): 10 MW by October 18, 2024, 20 MW by November 1, 2024, and 30 MW by April 1, 2025;
G. Pursuant to section 2.3 of the Registration Manual, an Entity has 21 days to file a response to a registration recommendation with the BCUC. The BCUC did not receive a response from ARC; and
H. The BCUC has reviewed WECC’s Recommendation and considers that the following determination is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 125.2(10) of the UCA and in accordance with the Registration Manual, the BCUC approves the registration of the recommended footprint change for ARC, effective October 18, 2024.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 5th day of May 2025.
BY ORDER
Electronically signed by Anna Fung
A. K. Fung, KC
Commissioner