8. Regulatory and information obliga- (iii) power plant license: This is generally providtion ed in the license and would include such things 8.1 Briefly outline the surveillance carried out by the regulatory authorities during the license period, e.g. with regards to reporting duties and/or on-site visits? In BC, under the Act, the Minister retains the right to enter and inspect any well, or any other facility where geothermal resources are handled, processed or treated. In addition, the Minister retains the right to inspect all equipment, plant, and records relating to the resource, and to take samples or carry out tests or examinations. After giving reasonable notice, the Minister is permitted to inspect records, and during business hours, in order to inspect those records has the right to enter the place where the records are kept. 8.2 Which information is required to be submitted to regulatory authorities during that same period for the holder of a license for: (i) exploration license: In BC, a permit holder must carry out geothermal exploration of a prescribed value in every year. In the alternative, a permit holder may make payments instead of performing the work. A permit holder must record all work performed within a given permit year and provide this information to commissioner appointed under the Oil and Gas Activities Act. (ii) exploitation license: In BC, a well operator must take a series of samples and prepare and deliver to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, within 30 days of the release of the drilling rig, descriptions of these samples and of any cores taken in the well. In addition, a well operator must submit to the Ministry of Energy and Mines the results of a bottom hole sample analysis, a pressure, volume or temperature analysis, or a measurement made on a well for the purpose of investigating the well's producing characteristics. Further, as drilling progresses, a well operator shall record abnormal changes in well temperatures and drilling rates on its daily report and submit a copy of each log to the Ministry of Energy and Mines not more than 30 days after the date the log was taken.
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as production levels.
9. Power purchase agreements 9.1 Are general terms and conditions, such as duration of Power Purchase Agreements regulated? If no, is there any soft law or general recommendations in place in your jurisdiction? In most provinces, the terms of Power Purchase Agreements are subject to approval by utilities commissions or similar authorities. The terms of the Power Purchase Agreements are not prescribed by regulation. It should be noted that in most provinces, the wholesale market for electricity is a monopoly which is operated by an agency of the government. In addition to regulatory requirements for constructing a generating facility, it is also necessary in those provinces to enter into arrangements (such as a power purchase agreement) with that agency, on the terms and conditions prescribed by that agency. Such arrangements are frequently entered into pursuant to a request for proposal (RFP) process. 9.2 What is the permitted or general duration of PPA? There is no specific rule but terms of 20 years or more are typical. 9.3 Are public and/or national regulatory authorities involved in any way in forming the terms of Power Purchase Agreements, either directly or indirectly? See above.
10. Incentives 10.1 Are there any incentives offered by the government or local authorities for utilization of geothermal energy? If yes, in what form (e.g. tax and/or feed-in tariffs) and what are the maximum amounts permitted? What requirements must the project fulfill in order to be eligible to receive such incentives? Under Canada’s Income Tax Act, certain types of renewable energy and conservation equipment are entitled to a 30% accelerated capital cost allowance rate. Geothermal equipment is