IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473
and
Application by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
to Amend Tariff Schedule 15xx to Accelerate the Medium General Service
Conservation Rate Implementation Schedule
BEFORE: L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner
D.M. Morton, Commissioner August 30, 2012
R.D. Revel, Commissioner
O R D E R
WHEREAS:
A. On October 16, 2009, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed with the the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) its Large General Service (LGS) Rate Application (LGSRA) seeking orders to establish new energy rates for LGS customers;
B. The LGSRA was reviewed by way of a negotiated settlement process, and by Order G-110-10 dated June 29, 2010, the Commission approved the LGSRA Negotiated Settlement Agreement (LGSRA NSA);
C. The LGSRA NSA split the existing LGS customers into two separate classes: the LSG class for customers with a monthly peak demand equal to or greater than 150 kW and the Medium General Service (MGS) class for customers with peak demand less than 150 kW but greater than or equal to 35 kW;
D. The LGSRA NSA established, over time, two-part conservation rate for the MGS class as reflected in Tariff Schedule 15xx. Section 5 of Tariff Schedule 15xx outlines the implementation schedule for the two-part MGS rate as folows:
|
Tariff Schedule 15xx, Section 5 |
|||
|
Effective Date |
Rate Class |
Peak Load |
Number of Accounts |
|
January 1, 2011 |
LGS |
peak demand greater or equal to 150 kW |
about 6,500 |
|
April 1, 2012 |
MGS |
peak demand less than 150 kW and greater or equal to 85 kW |
about 4,000 |
|
April 1, 2013 |
MGS |
peak demand less than 85 kW and greater or equal to 55 kW |
about 6,000 |
|
April 1, 2014 |
MGS |
peak demand less than 55 kW and greater or equal to 35 kW |
about 6,500 |
E. Section 6(a) of the LGSRA NSA provides for BC Hydro to apply to the Commission for orders altering the implemention schedule described in Tariff Schedule 15xx, Section 5 and/or amending the two-part conservation rate in regard to some or all of the MGS accounts;
F. On June 29, 2012, BC Hydro filed an application with the Commission, pursuant to section 6(a) of the LGSRA NSA to “Amend Tariff Schedule 15xx to Accelerate the MGS Conservation Rate Implementation Schedule” from April 1, 2014 to April 1, 2013 for MGS accounts with peak demand less than 55 kW and greater than or equal to 35 kW (the Application). The Application does not include any requests to amend the MGS part-two conservation rate;
G. On July 13, 2012, the Commission issued Order G-97-12 establishing a Regulatory Timetable for the review of the Application. The Regulatory Timetable includes dates for Intervener registration, one round of Intervener and Commission Information Requests, Intervener Final Submissions, and BC Hydro’s Reply Submission;
H. B.C. Sustainable Energy Association and the Sierra Club of British Columbia (BCSEA), Commercial Energy Consumers of British Columbia (CEC) and British Columbia Pensioners’ and Seniors’ Organization (BCPSO) registered as Interveners in the Proceeding, all parties participated in the LGSRA NSA;
I. BCSEA and CEC both supported the Application while BCPSO declined to take a position;
J. The Commission has reviewed the Application and supporting material and finds that the requested approvals are in the public interest.
NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:
1. The proposed amendments to Tariff Schedule 15xx, Section 5 as applied for in the Application are approved.
2. The Commission will accept, subject to timely filing by BC Hydro, amended Tariff Rate Schedules in accordance with the terms of this Order.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 31st day of August 2012.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
D.M. Morton
Commissioner