This regulation establishes specific definitions and exemptions pertinent to the utilities sector, with a particular focus on Coast Mountain Hydro Limited Partnership and its transmission system. Coast Mountain Hydro Services operates three run-of-river hydro facilities in Northwestern British Columbia

The regulation defines several key terms to delineate its applicability:

• • • “Act” refers to the Utilities Commission Act, the legislation that governs utility operations and regulatory oversight.
    • “Coast Mountain Hydro” denotes Coast Mountain Hydro Limited Partnership, an entity operating within the electricity sector, including its successors and assigns.
    • “Coast Mountain Hydro transmission system” refers to the network of power lines and associated infrastructure owned by Coast Mountain Hydro as of the effective date of this regulation.
    • “Eskay mine” identifies the Eskay Creek open-pit gold and silver mine, located approximately 83 kilometers northwest of Stewart, British Columbia.
      

The regulation grants Coast Mountain Hydro specific exemptions from Part 3 of the Utilities Commission Act. These exemptions apply to the following areas:

• • • The regulation exempts Coast Mountain Hydro’s transmission infrastructure from the standard regulatory requirements set forth in Part 3 of the Act.
    • Coast Mountain Hydro is exempt from regulatory oversight concerning the transmission of electricity from its system to the Eskay mine. This exemption means that the usual rules governing this electricity delivery are not applicable.
    • Any new expansions or additions to the Coast Mountain Hydro transmission network are not subject to the typical regulatory constraints.
    • Similarly, if Coast Mountain Hydro undertakes reconstruction or significant alterations to its transmission infrastructure, such activities are exempt from standard regulations.
      

This regulation is significant as it outlines how specific utilities, such as Coast Mountain Hydro, can operate under modified regulatory conditions. The exemptions provided facilitate greater operational flexibility for Coast Mountain Hydro, allowing for more efficient management of its transmission system and services without adhering to the full scope of regulations typically required under the Utilities Commission Act. 

Source: British Columbia (MO M86)