ORDER NUMBER
G-16-19
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
Review of the Regulatory Oversight of Capital Expenditures and Projects
BEFORE:
K. A. Keilty, Panel Chair/Commissioner
W. M. Everett, Q.C., Commissioner
R. I. Mason, Commissioner
on January 23, 2019
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On May 3, 2016, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) issued Order G-58-16, establishing a proceeding to review the regulatory oversight of British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority’s (BC Hydro) capital expenditures and projects (Review);
B. By Order G-193-18 dated October 11, 2018, the BCUC set out a regulatory timetable which included the filing of evidence by the Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC), and the filing of rebuttal evidence by BC Hydro;
C. On November 5, 2018, CEC filed evidence with the BCUC;
D. By letter dated November 23, 2018, BC Hydro requested an extension to the filing deadline for its rebuttal evidence, which the BCUC approved by Order G-223-18 dated November 27, 2018;
E. By Order G-226-18 dated November 29, 2018, the BCUC issued an amended regulatory timetable;
F. By letter dated January 22, 2019 (Exhibit B-13), BC Hydro requested an extension for filing its rebuttal evidence to February 15, 2019. BC Hydro submits that to a large extent, the resources required to prepare the rebuttal evidence are the same as those needed to prepare the F2020-F2021 Revenue Requirements and Rates Application (RRA), and additionally that many of BC Hydro’s resources for the Review are also supporting the Supply Chain Applications Project and the Reliability Coordinator Application before the BCUC. BC Hydro also believes it would be beneficial to adjust the future process steps in the Review until after BC Hydro has filed its F2020-F2021 RRA; and
G. The BCUC has reviewed BC Hydro’s request and determines that a suspension of the regulatory timetable is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:
1.
The regulatory timetable established by Order
G-226-18 is suspended, pending further submissions on
BC Hydro’s letter dated January 22, 2019.
2. By Monday, January 28, 2019, registered interveners are requested to provide submissions on BC Hydro’s letter dated January 22, 2019. Submissions should include comments on the appropriate regulatory timetable for the Review going forward in the event that an extension is granted to BC Hydro.
3. By Wednesday, January 30, 2019, BC Hydro is to provide its reply to intervener submissions.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 23rd day of January 2019.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
K. A. Keilty
Commissioner