ORDER NUMBER
G-121-17
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
British Columbia Utilities Commission Inquiry Respecting Site C
BEFORE:
D. M. Morton, Commissioner/Panel Chair
D. A. Cote, Commissioner
K. A. Keilty, Commissioner
R. I. Mason, Commissioner
on August 9, 2017
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On August 2, 2017, the Lieutenant Governor in Council, by Order in Council (OIC) No. 244, requests the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission), pursuant to section 5(1) of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), to advise the Lieutenant Governor in Council respecting British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority’s (BC Hydro, the authority) Site C project in accordance with the terms of reference set out in section 3 of OIC No. 244 (Site C Inquiry);
B. Pursuant to OIC No. 244, the “Site C project” is defined as BC Hydro’s project to construct a third dam and hydroelectric generating station, including related transmission facilities, on the Peace River to add 1,100 megawatts of firm capacity and 5,100 gigawatt hours of annual energy to the authority’s system;
C. In accordance with section 3(g) of the terms of reference in OIC No. 244, the Commission must submit to the minister charged with the administration of the Hydro and Power Authority Act a preliminary report outlining progress to date and preliminary findings by September 20, 2017 (Preliminary Report), and a final report, including the results of the Commission’s consultations, by November 1, 2017 (Final Report); and
D. On August 9, 2017, by Order G-120-17, the Commission established the Regulatory Timetable for the Site C Inquiry.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 5 of the Utilities Commission Act, the British Columbia Utilities Commission orders as follows:
1. In accordance with section 3(c) of the terms of reference established by Order in Council No. 244, BC Hydro must report to the Commission the following updated demand forecast information by Wednesday, August 30, 2017:
• Developments since the preparation of the peak capacity demand and energy demand forecasts submitted in July 2016 as part of BC Hydro’s F2017 to F2019 revenue requirements application that will impact demand in the short, medium and longer terms; and
• Other factors that could reasonably be expected to influence demand from the expected case toward the high load or the low load case.
2. BC Hydro must make an evidentiary filing to the Commission by Wednesday, August 30, 2017 on the anticipated value and unit prices of energy and capacity from the Site C dam as of the anticipated in-service date of 2024.
3. BC Hydro must make an evidentiary filing to the Commission on the questions put forth in section 3(b) of the terms of reference in Order in Council No. 244 by Wednesday, August 30, 2017.
4. BC Hydro must provide the Commission and its consultants with access to all relevant documents and information, as requested, pertaining to the Site C project as well as provide access to all relevant employees and BC Hydro consultants and/or contractors involved with the Site C project. BC Hydro is to provide the Commission with all reasonable assistance, as required, in meeting the requirements of the terms of reference established in Order in Council No. 244.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 9th day of August 2017.
BY ORDER
Original Signed By:
D. M. Morton
Commissioner