JIESC minces no words with the BCUC
Power at $220/MWh?
Collusion between BCUC and BC Hydro?
You gotta be kidding!
The Joint Industry Electricity Steering Committee is joining other intevenors in the BCUC review of the proposed Electricity Purchase Agreement between BC Hydro and Duke Point Power.
Excerpts from the JIESC letter:
Electricity price
Whatever the precise costs are it is clear they are substantial and BC Hydro’s submissions must seen and must be tested. The JIESC estimates that this project will have annual fixed costs in the range of $75 million per year, and that at an 80% utilization rate the costs will be approximately $88/MWh.
Furthermore, we are advised that at current gas prices the Duke Point Gas Plant will only be utilized about 20% of the time, like most similar plants, and will have a cost of around $220/MWh, several times the prices contemplated in the VIGP Decision.
Ratepayers are the ones who will pay the cost of this agreement for the next twenty five years and the public interest dictates that they must have an opportunity to examine the costs of the EPA and must have the time and information to allow them to have informed input to your decision.
Secret communications
The JIESC is also concerned by the unprecedented secret or confidential direct
communications between the Commission, its staff and the Applicant. These communications, to the extent the intervenors are aware of them ....
We request that the Commission immediately and fully disclose all communications by the Commission Panel or its staff with the applicant and/or Duke Point Power ....
Posted by Arthur Caldicott on 17 Dec 2004