The general purpose of the inquiry, under the current terms of reference, is for the Commission to make determinations with respect to B.C.’s electricity transmission infrastructure and capacity needs for a 30-year period in order to support efficient long-term development of transmission. The Commission must assess the electricity generation resources in B.C. that will potentially be developed during the 30-year term, grouped by geographical location, and the most-cost-effective and most probable sequence(s) of development. The Commission must also take into consideration various factors such as utility long-term resource plans, domestic load requirements, export opportunities for clean, renewable or low-carbon electricity, and areas in B.C. that will be inappropriate for development of generation resources, including but not limited to, parks and protected areas. The terms of reference specify, however, that the Commission must not make determinations on the merits of specific generation projects or with respect to the specific routing or technology of transmission projects.
Under the current terms of reference the Commission is required to, and has, invited and considered submissions, evidence and presentations from any interested person, including First Nations, local governments, utilities, power producers, ratepayer groups, environmental non-government organizations, and others.
Temporary Suspension and Revised Terms of Reference
By Letter dated December 15, 2009,
the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources has indicated that the Transmission Inquiry should be suspended until May 31, 2010 and that during that period the Minister would not expect the Commission “...to request or receive submissions from Inquiry participants, other than those required for administrative purposes to suspend the Inquiry.” The Minister’s letter also indicates that he will be issuing a revised Terms of Reference for the Inquiry. That letter is posted with other Transmission Inquiry exhibits as Exhibit A‐35.
On December 21, 2009, the Inquiry Panel issued Order G-167-09 (Exhibit A-37) suspending the Inquiry until May 31, 2010.
Link for more information Section 5 Transmission Inquiry
Parties who wish to participate once the inquiry resumes are asked to contact Ms. Erica Hamilton, Commission Secretary, as follows:
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