NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release 2008EMPR0019-000444 March 31, 2008	Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
UTILITIES ACT AMENDMENTS SUPPORT SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

VICTORIA – Amendments to the Utilities Commission Act will help achieve the clean energy leadership of the BC Energy Plan, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Richard Neufeld announced today.

 

“The Province is ensuring that the Utilities Commission Act is consistent with our ambitious energy security and conservation objectives,” said Neufeld. “Our government’s vision for a thriving province with a globally competitive economy is built on strong environmental management and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.”

 

The amendments align the act with the BC Energy Plan objectives and will encourage public utilities to:

• reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
• pursue energy conservation and efficiency;
• produce and obtain electricity from clean or renewable resources;
• develop energy transmission infrastructure and capacity to meet customer needs; and
• leverage innovative energy technologies.

 

These objectives will be considered by the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) when it makes decisions about utility plans, projects and supply contracts. The proposed amendments also include provisions to ensure the competitiveness of rates. The BCUC can take action to keep rates among the lowest in North America. The proposed amendments will help BC Hydro and other utilities reach their conservation targets and combat climate change.

 

“As stewards of this province, we have a responsibility to manage our natural resources and develop innovative and sustainable solutions,” added Neufeld. “Our goal is to ensure a secure, reliable, clean and affordable energy supply for all British Columbians for generations to come.”

 

The amendments also include new provisions for:

·        electricity self‑sufficiency;

·        generation of electricity from clean and renewable resources;

·        installation of smart meters;

·        BC Hydro’s standing offer for clean electricity projects of 10 megawatts or less;

·        a new process for the BCUC to ensure that the Province’s electricity transmission system remains consistent with North American reliability standards; and

·        suspending the BCUC’s 2007 rate rebalancing decision that would have added a further 11 per cent rate increase for residential customers over the next three years.

 

            Additional amendments create a new process for provincewide transmission planning and development to support economic growth and future electricity needs.

 

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Media contact:	Jake Jacobs Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 250 952-0628 250 213-6934 (cell)
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