Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-184-25

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Distribution Design Modernization Project

BEFORE:

E. B. Lockhart, Panel Chair

A. C. Dennier, Commissioner

on July 25, 2025

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On June 27, 2025, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application (Application) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), pursuant to section 44.2 of the Utilities Commission Act, for acceptance of a schedule of anticipated capital expenditures for the implementation of the Distribution Design Modernization project (Project);

B.      BC Hydro states the Project will replace existing distribution design systems (PassPort, Gateway, Maintenance Data Tracking System and the Customer Contribution Calculator) with an SAP-based Enterprise Asset Management system and replace the design and engineering capabilities of BC Hydro’s existing Distribution Analysis and Design system with commercially available software. The estimated cost range for the Project is $81.1 million to $104.6 million;

C.      BC Hydro requests that certain information in the Application (Confidential Information) be held confidential by the BCUC in accordance with Part IV of the BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure on the basis that the information is commercially sensitive and its release could harm BC Hydro’s negotiating position and harm its customers; and

D.      The BCUC has commenced review of the Application and determines that establishing a public hearing and a regulatory timetable are warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       A public hearing is established for the review of the Application in accordance with the regulatory timetable as set out in Appendix A to this order.

2.       BC Hydro is directed, as soon as practicable, but not later than Friday, August 1, 2025, to make the Application and this order available on its website.

3.       BC Hydro is directed, as soon as practicable, but not later than Friday, August 1, 2025, to publish notice of the Application, or post the Public Notice attached as Appendix B to this order, on its existing social media platforms. Weekly reminder posts must be published on each platform until the conclusion of the intervener registration period on Monday, August 11, 2025.

4.       BC Hydro is directed to provide to the BCUC by Tuesday, August 12, 2025, written confirmation of compliance with Directives 2 and 3 of this order, including a list of the social media platforms on which the notice was published.

5.       In accordance with the BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, parties who wish to actively participate in the proceeding must complete a Request to Intervene Form, available on the BCUC's website at https://www.bcuc.com/GetInvolved/GetInvolvedProceeding, by Monday, August 11, 2025. Parties may also submit letters of comment by completing a Letter of Comment Form, available on the BCUC’s website at https://www.bcuc.com/Forms/LetterOfComment.

6.       The Confidential Information will be held confidential unless the BCUC determines otherwise.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this      25^th       day of July 2025.

BY ORDER

Electronically signed by Blair Lockhart

E. B. Lockhart

Commissioner

Attachment

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Distribution Design Modernization Project

BC Hydro Distribution Design Modernization Project

On June 27, 2025, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for acceptance of anticipated capital expenditures for the implementation of the Distribution Design Modernization project (Project). The Project will replace BC Hydro’s existing distribution design applications with commercially available software. BC Hydro states the Project is needed to integrate its distribution design workflows into a single, cohesive and efficient tracking system. The Project has an estimated cost range of $88.1 million to $104.6 million.

Please visit the Proceeding webpage on bcuc.com under “Our Work” to learn more.

To participate in the proceeding, visit www.bcuc.com/get-involved.

Subscribe to this Proceeding on bcuc.com under “Get Involved” to receive email notifications when public documents are added to the proceeding.