BC Hydro: EPAs from Clean Power Call to be awarded in Fall 2009

Clean Power Call Update
BC Hydro
August 24, 2009

Proposals Evaluation Status Update and CEAP Application

The purpose of this notice is to provide Proponents who have submitted Proposals in the Clean Power Call with information concerning:

1. The status of BC Hydro’s evaluation of the Proposals, including BC Hydro’s assessment of the status of First Nations consultation; and

2. BC Hydro’s application for relief from certain requirements of the CEAP.

1. Status Update

In light of recent decisions of the B.C. Court of Appeal, including The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council v. British Columbia Utilities Commission et. al., for Proposals submitted in the Clean Power Call BC Hydro will be assessing the status of First Nations consultations to determine whether adequate consultation has occurred with respect to the proposed sale of power to BC Hydro. Further information may be required from certain Proponents to enable BC Hydro to complete that assessment.

Additional information regarding the evolved requirements of BC Hydro’s First Nations consultation assessment will be posted shortly to BC Hydro’s Clean Power Call website. Please be advised that BC Hydro will contact Proponents in respect of any additional information that may be required concerning projects submitted to the Clean Power Call.

With respect to the future timing of the Clean Power Call process, we anticipate that any EPA awards will occur in the Fall of 2009.

2. CEAP Application

Given BC Hydro's ongoing assessment of the status of First Nations consultation in relation to the Clean Power Call, BC Hydro has filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) requesting relief from section 4.10 of British Columbia Transmission Corporation's (BCTC) Competitive Electricity Acquisition Process (CEAP). The requested relief is with respect to the date by which BC Hydro is required to select successful Clean Power Call Proponents and submit an application to BCTC for a corresponding modification of network transmission service. If this application is not submitted to BCTC by the specified deadline, all Interconnection Requests for the Clean Power Call are deemed withdrawn. BC Hydro has requested that the CEAP deadline be extended to December 31, 2009. As per Order G-96-09 issued on August 20, 2009, the BCUC has agreed to this request to extend the CEAP deadline for the Clean Power Call only.

Clean Power Call update, BC Hydro, 24-Aug-2009

Posted by Arthur Caldicott on 24 Aug 2009