Category: General commentary

The BCUC approved BC Hydro’s purchase agreements to buy electricity from new power plants. But the narrowly focused decision will do little to satisfy complaints from First Nations, and there’s a whiff of hypocrisy in the government’s claim that they are committed to reconciliation. Introduction BC Hydro, the province’s largest electricity utility, initiated its 2024…

The BCUC establishes BC Hydro’s right to maintain a transmission line where Surrey wants to build a road. Will Surrey spend more taxpayers’ money taking the dispute further? Introduction As I wrote in February, BC Hydro and the City of Surrey (Surrey) are in dispute over a set of three transmission lines built on municipal…

The BCUC is examining whether gas utilities should continue to buy biomethane from outside the province. This could upset an important part of the government’s climate strategy. Introduction Natural gas provides relatively cheap building and industrial heat in BC. But burning natural gas emits greenhouse gases (GHG), something the government is keen to reduce. There…

Construction delays are putting additional pressure on energy bills. The BCUC needs to maintain a delicate balance between the interests of utilities and their ratepayers. Introduction Energy consumers are used to price increases. According to Stats Canada, BC’s energy prices rose 32.2 percent between 2020 and 2024, compared with 17.2 percent for consumer prices overall.…

One pipeline proposal accepted, another rejected. What will the BCUC do next? Introduction Last month, the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) approved an application from Pacific Northern Gas (PNG) to build a 650-metre pipeline extension near Prince Rupert, BC (the Ridley Island Decision). The extension will meet the additional demand for natural gas at the new…

The utility is looking to collect unbilled expenditures that kept rates lower in previous years. Introduction In April this year, the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) approved an increase to the delivery charges for customers of Pacific Northern Gas’s western division (PNG-West). This is the second increase for 2025, and means delivery charges have increased by…

It’s costing municipal taxpayers and energy ratepayers a lot of money to challenge the BCUC’s decisions in court. But the BCUC hasn’t been proven wrong yet. Introduction The City of Surrey and BC Hydro are currently locked in a dispute at the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) over who should pay to move three transmission lines…

Cancelling the carbon tax has lowered gas bills, but the cost of the Fortis renewable natural gas program will increase by 130 percent on July 1. And more increases are in the pipeline. Introduction The biggest change to BC’s gas bills recently was the cancellation of the provincial government’s carbon tax. The average residential customer…

Accusations that the provincially owned utility did not properly consult First Nations may slow down the projects, especially if the matter ends up in court. Introduction BC is attempting to procure new, clean energy from the private sector to plug its electricity deficit. BC Hydro, the province’s largest electric utility, ran a Call for Power…

BC Hydro needs to acquire more electricity than it previously thought, and it won’t be available soon enough. Introduction BC Hydro, the provincially owned electrical utility, needs more electricity. In 2024, with no new generation of its own planned, it sought bids from the private sector to build new, clean generation (2024 Call for Power).…