Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473

and

An Application by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

for the Hugh Keenleyside Spillway Gates Project

BEFORE:                 L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner                                                  July 30, 2010

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.       On July 16, 2010, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application (the Application) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (the Commission) under section 44.2(1)(b) for acceptance, pursuant to sections 44.2(3)(a) of the Utilities Commission Act (the Act), that capital expenditures BC Hydro anticipates making in respect of the Hugh Keenleyside Spillway Gates Project (Project) are in the public interest; and

B.       The Project has an expected capital cost is $90.2 million and authorized capital cost is $102.0 million and the cost does not include a net book value write down of $0.5 million that is required as a result of the Project.  The Project involves the refurbishment of four spillway gates and eight low level outlet gates at Hugh Keenleyside Dam with a target completion in December 2013.  The Hugh Keenleyside Dam is located on the Columbia River about eight kilometres upstream of Castlegar and was completed in 1968; and

C.     BC Hydro will hold a stakeholder workshop on the Application on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 commencing at 9:00 a.m., in the Commission Hearing Room, Twelfth floor, 1125 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC; and

D.    The Commission has determined that a Written Public Hearing process is needed for the review of the Application.

NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:

1.       A Written Public Hearing process is established for the review of the Application according to the Regulatory Timetable as set out in Appendix A to this Order.

2.       The Commission requires BC Hydro to publish, as soon as possible, in display ad format, the Notice attached as Appendix B to this Order in the Vancouver Sun and Province newspapers.

3.       The Commission requires BC Hydro to provide a copy of this Order to the First Nations considered to be relevant for inclusion in the consultation activities on the Project though their Chief and Council contacts.

4.       The Application, together with any supporting materials, will be made available for inspection at the BC Hydro Office, 333 Dunsmuir Street, BC V6B 5R3, and the British Columbia Utilities Commission, Sixth Floor, 900 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC  V6Z 2N3.

5.       Interveners and Interested Parties should register with the Commission, in writing or by electronic submission, by Thursday, August 12, 2010.  Interveners should specifically state the nature of their interest in the Application and identify generally the nature of the issues that they may intend to pursue during the proceeding and the nature and extent of their anticipated involvement in the review process.

6.       Any party intending to file for a Participant Assistance Cost Award (PACA) must submit its PACA budget, pursuant to the PACA Guidelines attached to Order G-72-07, to the Commission by Thursday, August 19, 2010.  A complete description of the PACA Guidelines is available at the Commission’s web site:

                                                http://www.bcuc.com/Documents/Guidelines/Participant/Guide.pdf

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this           30^th                    day of July 2010.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                                Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                L.F. Kelsey

Commissioner

Attachments

An Application by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

for the Hugh Keenleyside Spillway Gates Project

Regulatory Timetable

An Application by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

for the Hugh Keenleyside Spillway Gates Project

NOTICE OF APPLICATION AND WRITTEN PUBLIC HEARING

THE APPLICATION

On July 16, 2010, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application (the Application) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (the Commission) under section 44.2(1)(b) for acceptance, pursuant to sections 44.2(3)(a) of the Utilities Commission Act (the Act), that capital expenditures BC Hydro anticipates making in respect of the Hugh Keenleyside Spillway Gates Project (Project) are in the public interest.

The Project has an expected capital cost is $90.2 million and authorized capital cost is $102.0 million and the cost does not include a net book value write down of $0.5 million that is required as a result of the Project. The Project involves the refurbishment of four spillway gates and eight low level outlet gates at Hugh Keenleyside Dam with a target completion in December 2013.  The Hugh Keenleyside Dam is located on the Columbia River about eight kilometres upstream of Castlegar and was completed in 1968

THE REGULATORY PROCESS

Commission Order G-125-10 established the Regulatory Timetable for the review of the Application by way of a Written Public Hearing.

BC Hydro will hold a Stakeholder Workshop on the Project in Commission Hearing Room, Twelfth floor, 1125 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, on Wednesday, August 11, 2010, commencing at 9:00 a.m.

The detailed Regulatory Timetable can be reviewed on the Commission’s website:
                http://www.bcuc.com >Proceedings&Agendas>Current Applications.

REGISTERING TO PARTICIPATE

Persons who expect to actively participate in the BC Hydro proceeding should register as Interveners with the Commission, in writing, by Thursday, August 12, 2010, identifying their interest in the Application.  Interveners will receive copies of the Application as well as all correspondence and filed documentation and should provide an email address if available.

Persons not expecting to actively participate in the BC Hydro proceeding, but who have an interest in the Application, should register as Interested Parties with the Commission, in writing, by Thursday, August 12, 2010, identifying their interest in the Application.  Interested Parties will receive a copy of the Executive Summary of the Application and all Orders issued.

All submissions and/or correspondence received from active participants or the general public relating to the Application will be placed on the public record and posted to the Commission’s web site.

PUBLIC INSPECTION OF THE DOCUMENTS

The Application and supporting materials will be available for inspection at the following locations:

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information, please contact the Commission Secretary, Ms. Erica Hamilton as follows: