Orders

ORDER NUMBER

R-4-22

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Mandatory Reliability Standard Planning Coordinator Assessment Report

BEFORE:

A. K. Fung, QC, Panel Chair

C. M. Brewer, Commissioner

W. M. Everett, QC, Commissioner

on January 26, 2022

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On May 31, 2021, pursuant to section 125.2(3) of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) submitted to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) a Mandatory Reliability Standards (MRS) Planning Coordinator Assessment Report (PC Assessment Report) assessing 12 reliability standards and one retired reliability standard. All the reliability standards assessed in the PC Assessment Report are related to the Planning Coordinator (PC) function and are currently held in abeyance in British Columbia (BC). In the PC Assessment Report, BC Hydro also assessed four defined terms in the North American Electric Reliability Corporation Glossary of Terms dated October 8, 2020 (NERC Glossary) that are currently held in abeyance in BC. BC Hydro also proposed filing its plan for implementation of the PC function by June 25, 2021 (Implementation Approach);

B.      By BCUC Orders R-41-13, R-32-14, R-38-15, R-32-16, R-39-17, R-33-18 and R-19-20, reliability standards applicable to the PC function were held in abeyance and had no force or effect in BC;

C.      By Order R-6-21, the BCUC accepted BC Hydro’s extension request to file the PC Assessment Report from May 1, 2021 to May 31, 2021, because four reliability standards, which are dependent on and/or require actions solely by the PC function, were approved by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) with an effective order within the period between, and including, December 1, 2019 and November 30, 2020 (Assessment Period). Subsection 3(1)(a) of the MRS Regulation requires BC Hydro to report on a reliability standard, in accordance with section 125.2(3) of the UCA, within one year of the date the reliability standard is adopted by FERC;

D.      On June 25, 2021, BC Hydro filed its proposed Implementation Approach, which set out the anticipated timing for registering as the PC and engaging other entities interconnected (Interconnected Entities) to the BC Hydro system;

E.       By Order R-15-21, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for the review of the PC Assessment Report which included, among other things, intervener registration and an invitation to the public and registered entities (Registered Entities) to comment on the PC Assessment Report and Implementation Approach;

F.       The Residential Consumer Intervener Association (RCIA), FortisBC Inc. (FBC) and the British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization, Active Support Against Poverty, Disability Alliance BC, Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of BC and Tenants Resources and Advisory Centre (BCOAPO) registered as interveners and filed letters of comment (Letters of Comment);

G.      By Order R-20-21, the BCUC issued an amended regulatory timetable. The BCUC sought additional submissions (Additional Submissions) from the public and interveners on the following:

1.       Whether the reliability standards assessed in the PC Assessment Report should be adopted at this time, pending determination of which Registered Entities should be or are registered for the PC function in British Columbia;

2.       If the reliability standards in the PC Assessment Report should be adopted at this time, the recommended effective date(s) of those standards; and

3.       Further process, with supporting reasons, for the review of the Implementation Approach.

H.      BCOAPO, RCIA and FBC filed Additional Submissions on September 24, 2021;

I.         On October 8, 2021, BC Hydro filed its Reply to the Letters of Comment and the Additional Submissions. In BC Hydro’s reply, it recommends suspension of the PC Assessment Report proceeding and establishment of a new proceeding to address issues related to the PC function in BC (PC Issues);

J.        By Order R-24-21, the BCUC sought public and Registered Entity submissions on whether the PC Assessment Report proceeding should be suspended and a new proceeding should be established;

K.       On November 1, 2021, BCOAPO, FBC and RCIA filed their respective submissions. BCOAPO and FBC agreed that the BCUC should suspend the PC Assessment Report proceeding and establish a new proceeding to further investigate and address the PC Issues. On November 8, 2021, BC Hydro filed its reply to these submissions; and

L.       The Panel has reviewed all submissions and determines that adjournment of the current proceeding is warranted and recommends the BCUC initiate a separate proceeding regarding the PC Issues.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders the PC Assessment Report proceeding is hereby adjourned.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this                26^th            day of January 2022.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

A. K. Fung, QC

Commissioner