Richard Mason is a former Commissioner at the BC Utilities Commission, a seasoned project leader, and an enthusiastic mentor and coach. He is now the editor of Just and Reasonable, a web site dedicated to promoting good governance in BC’s energy sector.
Richard was a Commissioner from March 2016 until September 2023. He participated in commission panels setting rates and approving capital expenditures for BC’s energy utilities, and frequently served as panel chair.
Richard previously founded, built and sold two information technology businesses, and held executive leadership roles at Health Insurance BC and Pacific Blue Cross. He has successfully led projects characterized by high visibility, organizational complexity and tight deadlines.
Richard holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts (Mathematics and Computing Science) from Cambridge University.
Recent experience
As a decision-maker at the BCUC, Richard adjudicated applications such as BC Hydro’s F2022 $5.2 billion revenue requirement, FortisBC Energy Inc.’s $175 million replacement of the Pattullo Bridge gas line, and the Site C Inquiry.
All BCUC decisions require commissioners to apply their independent judgement and to act in the public interest.
As a panel chair, Richard oversaw the adjudication process, balancing administrative law principles with regulatory efficiency.
The panel chair ensures that public interest issues are raised and examined, panel members are supported in their deliberations, and decisions are clearly written.
Richard enjoys volunteering as a mentor and coach, and has mentored founders of early-stage start-ups, aspiring mid-level managers, post-graduate students and recent immigrants to Canada.
Projects
Richard served as project director for the BCUC’s Site C Inquiry, in addition to being on the commission panel. This independent inquiry examined the implications of completing, suspending or terminating construction of the Site C dam in northern BC.
The three-month inquiry included the development of two expert reports, province-wide public consultation with 963 attendees and 290 speakers, written submissions, and a 188-page final report.
Richard was the project director responsible for the successful launch of BC’s 8-1-1 service, which provides non-emergency health information.
The six-month project involved the creation of an entirely new 24-hour call centre, including staffing, office space, health protocols and information databases.
As project director and founding president and MAXIMUS BC, Richard led the transition of BC’s Medical Service Plan and PharmaCare administration to a private sector supplier under the Health Insurance BC brand.
The service required a new call centre to be built in a 45,000 square foot facility with new desktop and network technology, while meeting the government’s strictest privacy requirements for personal health data.
200 government employees transferred to the new business with no interruption in service.