FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) Application for a Certificate of Public ...

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Response:
FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC or the Company)
Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project
Response to British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC or the Commission)
Information Request (IR) No. 1
Submission Date:
October 5, 2012
Page 188
cycles which translates into 151,200 kWhs annually per site. Therefore these 824 sites
will consume approximately 125,000 MWhs in 2012. ...
There is considerable uncertainty in predicting long term customer behaviour related to
marijuana production in an environment of political debate on the topic and evolving
legislative response. ... It is expected that with an AMI-enabled theft detection program,
marijuana grow operators may choose to switch to alternate energy sources rather than
pay for electricity. This reduction in gross load is accounted for by assuming a 1 percent
growth in grow sites in the probable AMI forecast as opposed to the 2 percent assumed
in the status quo model. ...
AMI-enabled revenue protection is expected to increase theft detection from 8 to 25
percent by 2016, and gradually increase deterrence from 75 to 95 percent by 2021.”
A 2011 study titled “The Nature and Extent of Marihuana Growing Operations in Mission
British Columbia: A 14 Year Review (1997-2010) by the University of the Fraser Valley”
states on page 6:
“Further, it is worth noting that those growing operations involving electricity theft have
been consistently larger than operations that do not involve electricity theft.”
83.1 Confirm the study filed as Exhibit A2-1 is the 2011 study prepared by Dr. Darryl
Plecas, RCMP University Research Chair at the University of the Fraser Valley
referred to on page 87 of the Application. If not, please file the 2011 study
prepared by Dr. Darryl Plecas, RCMP University Research Chair at the
University of the Fraser Valley referred to on page 87 of the Application.
The Plecas study filed by Commission staff as Exhibit A2-1 is the study referred to on pages 82-
86 of the Application.
83.2 Please explain the rationale behind the following assumptions made by FortisBC:
• That the number of marijuana grow premises in FortisBC territory
compared to the BC total is proportional to the number of residential
electric customers.
• Under the status quo, the number of marijuana grow operations in
FortisBC territory is assumed to increase by two percent per year. In your
response, please discuss the ability of the FortisBC theft detection
program and the 2006 Safety Standards Act to place downward pressure
on the number of marijuana grow operations.