ORDER NUMBER
E-7-26
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
China Creek Project 2025 Electricity Purchase Agreement Renewal
BEFORE:
B. A. Magnan, Commissioner
R. E. Murphy, Commissioner
W. E. Royle, Commissioner
on March 5, 2026
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On February 6, 2026, pursuant to section 71 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) an Electricity Purchase Agreement (EPA) effective December 10, 2025, between BC Hydro and Upnit Power Limited Partnership (China Creek Project 2025 EPA) for the supply of electricity from the China Creek Hydroelectric Project for a term of 20 years (Filing);
B. By Order G-61-12 dated May 25, 2012, the BCUC approved the Rules for Energy Supply Contracts for Electricity (Rules). Appendix A of Order G-61-12 contains the Rules, which are intended to facilitate the BCUC’s review of energy supply contracts for electricity, pursuant to section 71 of the UCA;
C. By Order G-58-24 dated March 6, 2024, the BCUC accepted BC Hydro’s 2021 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) pursuant to section 44.1(6) of the UCA. The 2021 IRP provided BC Hydro’s long term energy needs and supply alternatives to meet future demand and included a near-term action to renew, at market-based prices, clean or renewable Independent Power Producer (IPP) projects with EPAs that expire prior to April 2026;
D. In accordance with the 2021 IRP, BC Hydro developed an EPA renewal program for IPPs who have EPAs for clean or renewable projects set to expire before April 1, 2026 (EPA Renewal Program);
E. BC Hydro submits the China Creek Hydroelectric Project is an eligible project under the EPA Renewal Program, and the China Creek Project 2025 EPA is materially consistent with the terms of the EPA Renewal Program;
F. BC Hydro requests the unredacted version of the Filing, including the entirety of the China Creek Project 2025 EPA, be held confidential as it contains information that is commercially sensitive; and
G. The BCUC has reviewed the Filing and considers the following determinations are warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 71 of the UCA and the Rules, the BCUC orders as follows:
1. The China Creek Project 2025 EPA is accepted as filed.
2. The China Creek Project 2025 EPA and the unredacted version of the Filing will be held confidential unless the BCUC determines otherwise.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 5th day of March 2026.
BY ORDER
Electronically signed by Rose Elise Murphy
R. E. Murphy
Commissioner