WHEREAS according to BC Hydros Transmission Interconnection Process Guidelines, connection times for a business to connect to an adequate power supply can vary from 17 months to 4.5 years; AND WHEREAS an inadequate power supply prohibits industrial growth; AND WHEREAS the cost of the transmission connection can vary greatly from community to community thereby creating an unfair competitive advantage: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request that the provincial government encourage BC Hydro and the BC Utilities Commission to institute policy changes designed to reduce connection times and to establish fair and equitable connection costs for all transmission customers.
Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas and Minister Responsible for Housing BC Hydro undertakes transmission upgrades based on demonstrated immediate or anticipated future demand. A series of technical studies are conducted to determine how best to meet the incremental load and the associated costs with doing so. BC Hydro files its project proposal with the British Columbia Utilities Commission to obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to determine if the project is in the public interest. This is standard utility practice in North America. Government recognizes that timely access to power influences economic development decisions. However, government must balance this with the need to mitigate rate impacts and assign limited capital dollars to the highest priority projects. Government will undertake an Industrial Electricity Policy Review starting in January 2013. Local government and private sector stakeholders are encouraged to participate in this review and to offer their opinions on how the interconnection process can be streamlined so projects can enter service as quickly as possible.