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Review of BC Hydro aims to lower rate increases

Nelson Daily Staff
By Nelson Daily Staff
April 8th, 2011

The government of British Columbia has appointed a panel of senior officials to review BC Hydro and develop options to reduce the impact of hydro rate increases on B.C. families.

“Our goal is to find the right balance between investing in our hydro system, while keeping rates as low as possible for BC families – and this review will help us do just that,” said Energy and Mines Minister Rich Coleman.

The panel will conduct an examination of BC Hydro’s financial performance, including operating and capital requirements, reliability of forecasting systems, administrative expenses, procurement processes, cost-containment strategies and opportunities for savings.

The panel will also consider rate structures, corporate structures and business planning. The panel members are also free to examine any other matters that may arise over the course of the review. 

The objective of the review is to provide recommendations and options to ensure costs are minimized and benefits to BC families and BC Hydro customers are maximized. The panel will report back to the premier and minister of Energy and Mines by the end of June 2011. 

Ultimately, the recommendations will inform an amended BC Hydro rate application to the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC). Any amendments to the rate application will be assessed and approved by the BCUC through its open public hearing process.

The three panel members are:

• deputy minister to the premier, John Dyble

• deputy minister of finance, Peter Milburn

• associate deputy minister of the environmental assessment office, Cheryl Wenezenki-Yolland

Following completion of the review, a final report containing recommendations will be made public. The panel may also recommend specific areas or topics for the government to review in greater depth.

The government review does not replace the normal, more-detailed rate increase examination conducted by the BCUC, which will resume after government’s review.

The report is also expected to help inform discussion of BC Hydro’s Integrated Resource Plan, where the first round of extensive public consultations on BC’s long-term energy needs has just been completed. 

 

Learn more

• For a copy of the Review of BC Hydro Terms of Reference:

http://www.mediaroom.gov.bc.ca/newsroom/Terms_of_Reference.pdf

• About BC Hydro’s Public Consultations on the Integrated Resource Plan:

http://www.bchydro.com/planning_regulatory/irp.html

• About the BC Utilities Commission:

http://www.bcuc.com/CorpProfile.aspx

 

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