Regulatory Requirements

Along with providing context for BC Hydro's business planning activities, the Long-Term Acquisition Plan (LTAP) plays a vital role in helping BC Hydro meet its regulatory obligations.

As a public utility, BC Hydro is regulated by the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC). As regulatory agency of the Provincial Government, the BCUC operates under and administers the Utilities Commission Act, which was most recently amended in May 2008.

Through an open and transparent regulatory review process, the BCUC ensures that:

• Rates charged for energy are fair, just and reasonable,
• Energy utility operations provide safe, adequate and secure service to their customers, and
• Shareholders of public utilities under its jurisdiction are afforded a reasonable opportunity to earn a fair return on their invested capital.

To satisfy the requirements of Section 44.1 of the Utilities Commission Act, BC Hydro takes the following approach:

• The LTAP sets out potential portfolios of future resources and provides the context, informed by First Nations and stakeholder engagement of a 10-year plan for developing projects and programs.
• BC Hydro's proposal is to file each LTAP two years following receipt of the BCUC's decision on the previous LTAP application.

Regulatory filings will be posted on this website as they are completed and submitted to the BCUC.