LETTER NO. L-12-04 SIXTH FLOOR, 900 HOWE STREET, BOX 250 ROBERT J. PELLATT VANCOUVER, B.C. CANADA V6Z 2N3 COMMISSION SECRETARY TELEPHONE: (604) 660-4700 Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com BC TOLL FREE: 1-800-663-1385 web site: http://www.bcuc.com FACSIMILE: (604) 660-1102 VIA FACSIMILE 9, 604-623-4407 February 23, 2004 Mr. Richard Stout Chief Regulatory Officer British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority 17 th Floor, 333 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver, B.C. V6B 5R3 Dear Mr. Stout: Re: British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority Billing Changes Effective December 29, 2003 We have examined a bill from BC Hydro that advises that the Utility has commenced billings that do not appear to be in accordance with the filed Electric Tariff, Terms and Conditions of Service, Definitions and Rates. On a recent bill issued February 4, 2004, BC Hydro advised that the Basic Charge and the Regional Transit Levy would be calculated based on the total number of days in the billing period. We have also examined the Electric Tariff and can find no authority that would permit BC Hydro to use a daily rate in calculating the Basic Charge for current or existing customers. The Commission is very concerned that BC Hydro may be allowing its service provider to make changes to billing practices that are not in conformance with BC Hydro’s filed Electric Tariff. The Basic Charge is at the rate of $6.92 per period of two months. A one month billing would be for one-half of that charge or $3.46. In the Definitions Section, Page A-8-1, the period of account activity is clearly spelled out as a Month (27 to 33 consecutive days), Two Months (54 to 66 consecutive days), Three Months (85 to 97 consecutive days), and Four Months (116 to 128 consecutive days). The Commission believes that the daily rate for billing the Basic Charge is not in accordance with the Electric Tariff. However, the Commission accepts that for new accounts, or for accounts that have been “finaled” that pro-rating the bills issued to those affected customers is allowed because the billings would likely be for periods outside of the standard definition. We enclose a copy of a recent billing from BC Hydro and copies of the approved Electric Tariff Pages for BC Hydro’s information. Please advise the Commission by March 17, 2004 of the remedial measures that BC Hydro proposes to take in order to bring customer bills back into line with the filed Electric Tariff. If the change that has been made to billing is an improvement to the Electric Tariff, BC Hydro may wish to apply for the appropriate tariff changes, with supporting information to demonstrate the efficiency and fairness of the changes. Yours truly, Original signed by: Robert J. Pellatt RJP/yl Enclosures Complaints/BCH-Cor/Billing Changes – Rqst to BCH
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