Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-101-21

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

CB Powerline Ltd.

Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

BEFORE:

T. A. Loski, Panel Chair

C. Brewer, Commissioner

W. M. Everett, QC, Commissioner

on April 1, 2021

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On September 11, 2020, CB Powerline Ltd. (CBP) filed an application to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for the Cosens Bay community electrification project (Project) pursuant to sections 45 and 46 of the Utilities Commission Act (Application);

B.      In seeking a CPCN for the Project, CBP requests approval to build, own, operate and maintain an electrical distribution system servicing the community of Cosens Bay on Kalamalka Lake, Regional District of North Okanagan, B.C.;

C.      By Order G-248-20 dated October 5, 2020, the BCUC established a written public hearing process and a regulatory timetable for the Application;

D.      By Order G-317-20 dated December 4, 2020, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable and directed CBP to provide further notice to affected parties. By Order G-18-21 dated January 19, 2021, the BCUC further amended the regulatory timetable to include dates for a second round of BCUC information requests (IRs), CBP responses to BCUC IRs and CBP final argument;

E.       On February 17, 2021, the BCUC received a request for intervener registration in this proceeding from the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB). By Order G-47-21 dated February 19, 2021, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable to include one round of OKIB IRs followed by submission on further process by OKIB and CBP;

F.       On March 26, 2021, OKIB submitted to the BCUC a request to extend by three weeks the established filing deadlines for OKIB and CBP submissions on further process. OKIB requests this extension to accommodate temporary constraints on its operational capacity and leadership decision-making processes due to OKIB’s election for the Office of Chief and Council to occur on March 31, 2021;

G.      In a letter dated March 29, 2021, CBP responds to OKIB’s extension request. CBP submits that OKIB has not demonstrated the necessary merit to change the regulatory timetable and requests that OKIB’s request be denied by the BCUC; and

H.      The BCUC has reviewed OKIB’s request and CBP’s response and considers that amending the regulatory timetable for the review of this Application is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders that an amended regulatory timetable for the review of the Application is established, as set out in Appendix A to this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this             1^st              April day of 2021.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

T. A. Loski

Commissioner

Attachment

CB Powerline Ltd.

Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

*  Parties are invited to propose the scope of further process in this proceeding (for example, submissions of evidence, rebuttal evidence, further IR’s, final argument)