Letter from Terry Webster re: Site C Moratorium

9825 Nassichuk Road Powell River, BC V8A 0P3

January 29, 2015

Dear Mayor and Council

RE: MORATORIUM TO ALLOW BCUC TO REVIEW PROPOSED SITE C PROJECT

In response to a report in our local paper, I recently attended the Powell River council meeting and made a presentation. As a result there was a unanimous decision to send a letter to Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines asking that there be a one-year moratorium on the building of Site C to allow the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) to rule on the project.

I am aware that the District of Hudson’s Hope sent a letter in December asking for support from municipalities regarding this issue. Unfortunately, the Province announced their approval of the project at the same time so many municipalities may have felt that it was too late to become involved. Although the Site C project has received approval, I believe that the BC Government should follow the recommendation of their Joint Review Committee and refer the issue to the BCUC before beginning construction.

Why is this a municipal issue? Almost everyone in BC uses electricity in their homes and their work places. Already ratepayers are bracing for 28% hikes over the next six years - and that is before the $8.8 billion dollar costs for Site C are added. To date the provincial government has not acted on the advice of the Joint Review Commission* so it is the responsibility of local government to act on behalf of its citizens. Raise your voices, write a letter to Bill Bennett and your local MLA to let the BC government know that it is their duty to allow BCUC to analyze the Site C project, thus ensuring that we all have affordable power in the future. Site C is reported to be the most expensive power project that British Columbia has ever embarked on so it is essential that the BCUC reviews the project before construction begins.

Sincerely,

Terry Webster

• Among other findings, the Joint Review Panel concluded that:

• it was unable to assess the accuracy of Site C project cost estimates, and recommended that such costs, including unit energy costs and revenue requirements, be referred to the BC Utilities Commission for detailed examination if Site C proceeds;
• basing Site C on a 20-year demand forecast without an explicit 20-year forecast for electricity prices is not good practice given the potential reduction to electricity demand caused by future real rate increases, and recommended that (i) BC Hydro construct a reasonable long-term pricing model and update the associated load forecast and (ii) such forecasts be subject to a BCUC hearing before beginning construction of Site C