SIXTH FLOOR, 900 HOWE STREET, BOX 250 VANCOUVER, B.C. V6Z 2N3 CANADA web site: http://www.bcuc.com IN THE MATTER OF the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473 and An Application by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority to Amend Rate Schedule 1151 – Exempt Residential Service to Residential Inclining Block Rate Control Group Customers BEFORE: L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner P.E. Vivian, Commissioner O R D E R WHEREAS: A. British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (“BC Hydro”) filed on February 26, 2008, pursuant to sections 58 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (the “Act”), an application for the review and approval of a new, two‐step residential inclining block (“RIB”) rate structure for its residential customers, to be effective October 1, 2008, or as soon as practicable; and B. On August 28, 2008, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (“Commission”), by Order G‐124‐08, approved a RIB rate structure commencing October 1, 2008; and C. BC Hydro filed on October 20, 2008, pursuant to sections 58 to 61 of the Act, an application for the approval of a RIB rate exemption for a group of residential customers enrolled in a RIB rate control group, effective November 1, 2008 (“Application”). The RIB rate control group customers are to be recruited from the currently participating Conservation Research Initiative ‐ Time of Use (“CRI TOU”) control group customers. The CRI TOU Pilot program is to end on October 31, 2008; and D. Specifically, BC Hydro seeks an order that will amend Rate Schedule 1151 ‐ Exempt Residential Service (“RS 1151”) to allow customers enrolled in the RIB rate control group to continue to receive service under RS 1151 after October 31, 2008; and E. As one of several methods for measuring the effectiveness of the RIB rate, BC Hydro plans to use a RIB rate control group as a means of comparing the energy consumption patterns of residential customers on a flat rate to residential customers on the RIB rate; and BRIT ISH COLU MBIA UTIL IT IES COM MISSION ORDER NUMBER G ‐160‐08 TELEPHONE: (604) 660‐4700 BC TOLL FREE: 1‐800‐663‐1385 FACSIMILE: (604) 660‐1102 October 31, 2008 . . ./2
BRIT ISH COLUMBIA UTIL IT IES COMMISSION ORDER NUMBER G‐160‐08 2 F. By letter dated October 23, 2008, the British Columbia Sustainable Energy Association and the Sierra Club of British Columbia made submissions to support BC Hydro’s Application; and G. By letter dated October 27, 2008, the British Columbia Old Age Pensioners et al. submitted their opposition to the Application, citing concerns related to bias in the methodology and the effects it would have on research results; and H. On October 28, 2008 BC Hydro responded by letter stating that it believes that the CRI TOU control group is the best control group to evaluate the RIB rate; and J. The Commission has considered the matter and has concluded that the merits of research methodologies and results should be left to a full‐scale application on rate structure or rate design, and the approval of the Application at hand is to facilitate BC Hydro to proceed with its research work. NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders that the amended tariff page for RS 1151 attached as Appendix A to this Order is approved. DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 31 st day of October 2008. BY ORDER Original signed by: L.F. Kelsey Commissioner Attachment Order/G‐160‐08_BCH_Amend RS 1151 Xmptn RIB Control Group
APPENDIX A to Order G‐160‐08 Page 1 of 1
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