Ian D. Webb

Ian advises and represents public utilities, power marketers, and oil and gas companies on regulatory requirements and proceedings, commercial transactions and energy trade matters.

In the area of regulatory requirements and proceedings, Ian acts for the largest electric utility in British Columbia in connection with all aspects of the regulation of its rates, services, system planning, and project development. He advises on the rules of access to transportation services for electricity, oil and natural gas. He has also represented clients seeking exemption from economic regulation under the Utilities Commission Act.

Ian maintains in-depth knowledge of the ever-evolving government policies and statutory regimes relating to the energy industry. In this regard, he assists clients with implementing government-mandated energy conservation and climate change initiatives, and clean power technologies. He regularly advises clients on the requirements of B.C.’sUtilities Commission Act, Clean Energy Act, BC Hydro Public Power Legacy and Heritage Contract Act, Petroleum and Natural Gas Act, Pipeline Act, Oil and Gas Activities Act and Water Act. He also has in-depth knowledge of B.C. public utility tariffs and the FERC open access transmission tariff.

He advises on commercial transactions involving the purchase and sale of energy, with an emphasis on structuring transactions to meet or minimize regulatory requirements. He has also advised clients regarding the acquisition of energy assets in B.C. Clients include electricity and natural gas market participants.

Ian also handles authorizations to trade energy between Canada and the U.S. on behalf of these clients, as well as authorizations to trade in B.C. and Alberta.

Professional Activities

• Law Society of British Columbia, Member
• Canadian Institute of Energy (B.C.), Director
• Continuing Legal Education, instructor for seminar on public utility regulation

Bar Admissions

• British Columbia (2000)

Education

• Queen’s University (B.Sc. Physical Geography, 1992)
• University of Victoria (LL.B., 1999)

Ian has:

• Acted for the largest electric utility in B.C. in connection with applications before the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) for approval to increase rates, amend tariffs, and of long-term resource plans
• Advised the electric utility on all aspects of its rates and tariffs for industrial customers
• Acted for the electric utility in connection with the development of a new transmission line in northwest B.C.
• Advised investors considering the purchase of electricity generation assets in B.C.
• Acted for an electric utility in connection with applications before the BCUC related to potential arbitrage of the utility’s low cost power by customers with their own generation capability
• Acted for a natural gas storage service provider in applications to the BCUC for exemption from economic regulation and disposition of assets
• Acted for an oil products shipper in proceedings before the BCUC related to a proposal to increase pipeline tolls based on diminished economic life considerations
• Assisted an electric utility and its power marketing affiliate in developing standards of conduct for transmission information
• Assisted a B.C. power marketing company in making changes in status filings with FERC