Feed-In Tariff Consultation Paper
The British Columbia Ministry of Energy (“the Ministry”) intends to propose the introduction of a Feed-In Tariff Regulation (“the Regulation”) under Section 16 of the Clean Energy Act (“the Act”) to support fulfillment of British Columbia’s Energy Objectives.
The Regulation would require the BC Hydro and Power Authority (“BC Hydro”) to establish a feed-in tariff (“FIT”) in accordance with the Act. The Regulation would set out eligibility criteria for participation in a FIT along with other key aspects of the program. Full details of a FIT would be established by BC Hydro based on the requirements of the Regulation.
The process for establishing the regulation consists of the following stages:
• Scoping – reviewing existing FITs in other jurisdictions, with particular focus on their relevance to the British Columbia electricity sector;
• Consultation Paper – This paper outlines the Ministry’s intentions for drafting the regulation;
• Consultation – hearing from interested stakeholders and the general public via responses to the Consultation Paper and other means as required;
• Drafting – preparing legal language for consideration by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources (“the Minister”) and Lieutenant Governor-in-Council (Cabinet);
• Decision by the Lieutenant Governor-in-Council on whether to enact a FIT Regulation; and
• Implementation – informing government staff and external stakeholders of the regulatory requirements, and enabling effective implementation should a FIT Regulation be brought into force.
In August 2010, the Ministry released a Consultation Paper to inform stakeholders and the general public of Government’s intentions to develop the Regulation, to provide relevant background information and to solicit comments for consideration when drafting the Regulation. The deadline for public comments on the consultation paper was September 30, 2010. The Ministry received 108 comments from industry, industry associations, non-governmental organizations, academics, community organizations, First Nations, municipalities, and the general public.
The Ministry is now in the regulatory drafting stage and is using the input received during the consultation process to inform the development of legal language for the proposed regulation for consideration by the Minister and Cabinet.
The Ministry has prepared a summary of the feedback received during the consultation process. It can be accessed by clicking here .
The Consultation Paper can be accessed by clicking here.
BC Hydro maintains a mailing list to provide updates to those interested in following the development of a feed-in tariff in British Columbia. You can sign up for the mailing list on BC Hydro’s Feed-in Tariff Website.
