BCUC - BC Hydro's 2008 LTAP Hearing - Update
We have been following with great interest BC Hydro's 2008 LTAP hearings currently underway at the BC Utilities Commission. It is now day 5 of the expected 30 day hearing and BC Hydro's "Panel 1" (Senior management dealing with policy matters) has completed being cross-examined and now Panel 2 (Load resource gap and Fort Nelson) is facing the tough questions. Upcoming, is Panel 3 which will deal with Hydro's forecasts and options, and Panel 4 which will focus on BC Hydro's implementation of the LTAP.
The BC Hydro 2008 LTAP hearing is significant for a number of reasons. First, BC Hydro's planning strategies set out in the 2008 LTAP will have a major impact on energy procurement in the Province for years to come. Second, BC Hydro will certainly be pressed by some of the intervenors on its controversial decision to cut back the Clean Power Call to 3,000GWh (from 5,000 GWh). Third, this is the first LTAP hearing since the BC Government introduced its "green" Energy Plan in 2007 and the first chance the BCUC has had to examine BC Hydro's operational reaction to the Government's "green" Energy Plan. And finally, in my opinion, it's simply fascinating to see the many underlying political themes playing out at the BCUC. It seems like everybody's got something to say on this LTAP.
If you are not able to attend the hearings, there are two great ways to follow the action:
- Live hearing broadcasts (and follow the links and downloads); and
- Daily transcripts provided on the BCUC website (usually about 1 day behind) - scroll down to the very bottom of the page and click on the specific day.
