The 小蓝视频 Utilities Commission (小蓝视频UC) is revising the scope and timetable for reviewing 小蓝视频 Hydro’s integrated resource plan, which was recently changed to reflect a need for more clean electricity.
小蓝视频 Hydro filed its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) in 2021, but last month announced an update to it. The 小蓝视频UC was still in the process of reviewing 2021 IRP when 小蓝视频 Hydro updated it.
Whereas the previous IRP and load forecast did not foresee the need for any new power for the foreseeable future, the updated IRP and now calls for about 4,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) of clean power. About 3,000 GWh of that power would come from new "greenfield" generation sources, which means 小蓝视频 Hydro plans to issue a new power call. The last power call was 15 years ago and gave rise to a multi-billion dollar private power sector.
As BIV recently , experts believe most of the new power to be acquired in 小蓝视频 will likely come from new wind farm projects.
The 小蓝视频UC is a utility watchdog responsible for ensuring ratepayers are protected. Now that 小蓝视频 Hydro has changed its load forecast and updated its IRP, the 小蓝视频UC says its ongoing review of 小蓝视频 Hydro’s 2021 IRP will be changed to focus more immediately on 小蓝视频 Hydro’s new load forecasts and its near-term plans to acquire additional energy.
“The 小蓝视频UC has pivoted the proceeding timetable to focus, in the near term, on 小蓝视频 Hydro’s load forecast scenarios and planned energy acquisition to address the accelerated timeline that 小蓝视频 Hydro has indicated it needs to acquire new energy,” the 小蓝视频UC says.
The 小蓝视频UC now expects to review those two issues on a priority basis, and aims to compete the review by the first quarter of 2024.
The 小蓝视频UC will likely hear from critics worried about increasing electricity bills that 小蓝视频 Hydro does not need to finance any new power generation.
It has been argued, for example, that 小蓝视频 Hydro could address additional power needs by putting the Burrard thermal power plant back into operation, or using its entitlement under the Columbia River Treaty to use the hydro power that it currently sells to the U.S.
Proceeding documents on the 小蓝视频UC’s review of 小蓝视频 Hydro’s integrated resource plans can be found
