Orders

ORDER NUMBER

R-51-23

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

British Columbia Utilities Commission

Mandatory Reliability Standards Planning Coordinator
Function Registration and Planning Coordinator Issues

 

BEFORE:

A. K. Fung, KC, Panel Chair

C. M. Brewer, Commissioner

W. M. Everett, KC, Commissioner

 

on October 11, 2023

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      By Order R-8-22 dated March 14, 2022, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) established a regulatory timetable for a proceeding to review the Planning Coordinator (PC) Function Registration and Planning Coordinator Issues raised by the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) and interveners registered in the currently adjourned Assessment Report Proceeding for Reliability Standards applicable to the
PC function (PC Assessment Report Proceeding);

B.       FortisBC Inc. (FBC), BC Hydro, Movement of United Professionals (MOVEUP), Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC), Residential Consumer Intervener Association (RCIA) and Cape Scott Wind LP (CSWLP) have registered as interveners (collectively Interveners) in this proceeding to review the PC Function Registration and PC Issues;

C.       On July 15, 2022, the Administrator of the MRS Program, the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC), filed with the BCUC a report of the results of the Transmission Planner mapping exercise (TP Report). The TP Report identifies gaps with Entities’ having no functional relationships to a registered Transmission Planner, specifically with BC Hydro, which could result in failure to coordinate and exchange planning information as specified in the adopted Mandatory Reliability Standards;

D.      On January 26, 2023, the BCUC held a Streamlined Review Process (SRP) to address issues pertaining to the Transmission Planner mapping, with WECC, FBC, BC Hydro, RCIA and CSWLP in attendance. At the SRP, BC Hydro proposed a path forward for next steps in the PC Function Registration and PC Issues proceeding (Path Forward). BC Hydro’s Path Forward recommends that the BCUC:

1.             Request WECC to conduct another Transmission Planner (TP) mapping so that BC Hydro can accept mapping requests from registered Generator Owners (GOs) and Distribution Providers (DPs);

2.             Amend Section 3.1 of the Registration Manual for British Columbia Mandatory Reliability Standards to include the assignment of compliance responsibility process to TPs; and

3.             Request WECC to work with appropriate parties to set out an implementation timeline and activities for Transmission Owner/Operators wishing to map to BC Hydro as its TP. In addition to BC Hydro and FBC,
BC Hydro has identified Catalyst Paper Powell River Division (Catalyst) as a Transmission Owner (TO);

E.       By Order R-5-23 dated February 9, 2023, the BCUC established a further regulatory timetable for Intervener submissions in response to BC Hydro’s Path Forward and final arguments for the TP phase of the proceeding;

F.       On February 23, 2023, Catalyst filed a letter of comment with the BCUC stating that it agrees to negotiations with BC Hydro on the condition that such negotiations include addressing the unique nature of its situation at Powell River with Powell River Energy Inc. (PREI), jointly owning the transmission asset;

G.      After considering the letters of comment, the BCUC issued Order R-11-23 dated April 4, 2023, directing WECC to initiate another TP mapping exercise and establishing a further regulatory timetable for BC Hydro proposals to accept or reject TP mapping requests;

H.      On June 30, 2023, WECC submitted the results of the latest TP mapping exercise which indicated that BC Hydro had accepted TP mapping requests from the Entities that submitted, with the exception of PREI;

I.         On July 4, 2023, BC Hydro filed its proposed implementation timelines to accept or reject the TP mapping request from Catalyst and/or PREI (Implementation Proposals). BC Hydro submits that Catalyst is in the process of selling the assets at its site. The Implementation Proposals include four options that Catalyst may choose to pursue contingent on the sale of its assets;

J.        By Order R-39-23 dated July 24, 2023, the BCUC issued a further regulatory timetable for BC Hydro and Catalyst’s submissions on the Implementation Proposals;

K.       On September 29, 2023, Catalyst filed its submission stating that its preferred approach is to have an agreement with PREI to include the transmission lines and associated equipment in its GO footprint; however, PREI does not support such an agreement;

L.        On September 29, 2023, BC Hydro filed its submission in response to Catalyst stating that the TO is accountable for ensuring there is a TP and therefore submits that Catalyst be registered as a TP for its transmission system and assume compliance responsibilities associated with that function; and

M.    The BCUC determines that the establishment of further regulatory timetable is warranted for WECC to make a recommendation regarding TP registration for Catalyst.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 125.1(10) of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders the establishment of a further regulatory timetable as set out in Appendix A to this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this        11^th          day of October 2023.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

A. K. Fung, KC

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

 

British Columbia Utilities Commission

Mandatory Reliability Standards Planning Coordinator
Function Registration and Planning Coordinator Issues