2005 Annual Report - British Columbia Transmission Corporation

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British Columbia Transmission Corporation

The separation of BC Hydro and British Columbia Transmission Corporation (BCTC) was part of the Provincial Government’s Energy Plan. Among other objectives, the plan provides for open and non-discriminatory access to B.C.’s electricity transmission system for all power providers, including BC Hydro. BC Hydro retains ownership of the transmission assets, but their management, operation and maintenance is the responsibility of BCTC.

Although BCTC is a separate Crown corporation, BCTC and BC Hydro work together through service level agreements to ensure the system’s reliability. The separation of BCTC from BC Hydro was mandated by the Provincial Government’s Transmission Corporation Act that came into force in July 2003. Effective April 1, 2005, BCTC is a fully independent entity, operating under its own tariff. Its relationship with BC Hydro is defined by the tariff, the Master Agreement and the Key Agreements. These agreements are supported by several specific agreements, and include:

• Service Level Agreements, relating to provision of specific services such as Engineering, Field Services, and Distribution Operations;
• Protocol Agreements, covering First Nations issues, Intellectual and Real Property, and Workplace Safety; and
• Other Agreements, including Apprentice Training and General Assignment and Assumptions.

The drafting and negotiating of these agreements has been achieved by continuous and dedicated effort by BCTC and BC Hydro staff over the past year, and the agreements were signed shortly after the end of the fiscal year.

Although the full separation of the two corporations only came into effect on April 1, 2005, BCTC’s operations have been largely separate from those of BC Hydro for the past year. However, its financial results for the last year are consolidated with those of BC Hydro, as provided in this report. BCTC also prepares and publishes its own Service Plans and Annual Reports.