BC Government Report on its BC Hydro Review
Today, the British Columbia government released its report on its review of BC Hydro. The comprehensive report is written by a government appointed review panel which was devised in response to BC Hydro's proposed 32% electricity rate increase over three years.
The report provides 56 recommendations to BC Hydro and mostly addresses the internal operations of BC Hydro, but also touches on current and past BC energy policy and the impact on BC Hydro operations.
The report does not directly address the future of the BC clean energy industry, but if you read between the lines, the report does offer some nuggets of information that could impact independent power producers and clean energy enthusiasts. For instance, there is a recommendation that Government and BC Hydro review the Clean Energy Act's self-sufficiency requirement considering the current market price of electricity (see pages 92-93). This would certainly be a worthwhile exercise, but there are no easy answers as to how to best address this issue.
If we have learned anything over the past few years, it's that a fluid energy policy is crucial for British Columbia - an energy policy which can adapt to market forces, provide optimal balance between private, public and first nations enterprise, and protect the environment for future generations of British Columbians.
As the Province moves forward in the 21st century, partnerships between power purchasers, producers, first nations and other key stakeholders are critical. The Government report on BC Hydro adds valuable insight to the ongoing discussion and debate on how British Columbia can best meet the economic, environmental and community goals in building a clean energy future in the Province of British Columbia.
