IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473
and
the Insurance Corporation Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 228, as amended
and
Application for Participant Assistance/Cost Award
in the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia Application
for
Approval of the Revenue Requirements for Universal Compulsory Automobile
Insurance
for the Policy Year Commencing February 1, 2012
BEFORE: A.W.K. Anderson, Panel Chair and Commissioner
M.R. Harle, Commissioner
R.D. Revel, Commissioner August 30, 2012
O R D E R
WHEREAS:
A. On December 1, 2011, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) submitted an application to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) for approval of the Revenue Requirements for Universal Compulsory Automobile Insurance (Basic Insurance) for the policy year commencing February 1, 2012 (the Application);
B. By Order G-21-12 dated February 29, 2012, subsequent to a Pre-hearing Conference, the Commission established a Revised Regulatory including: (i) an Oral Public Hearing for actuarial matters only and (ii) ICBC and Intervener Oral Final Arguments, and ICBC Oral Reply Argument;
C. By Order G-62-12 dated May 22, 2012, subsequent to comments received from ICBC and four Interveners regarding the necessity of a limited Oral Public Hearing on actuarial matters only, and potentially replacing the oral argument process with written arguments, the Commission established an Amended Regulatory Timetable for the remaining regulatory process. The Amended Regulatory Timetable replaced both the limited Oral Public Hearing on actuarial matters and the oral argument process with a full written process;
D. By Order G-109-12 with Decision issued concurrently, the Commission approved the Application’s requested 11.2 percent increase in Basic Insurance rates for the Policy Year 2012, commencing February 1, 2012;
E. By letter dated July 19, 2012, the British Columbia Public Interest Advocacy Centre filed with the Commission a Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) on behalf of its client, the British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO) with respect to its participation in the 2012 ICBC Revenue Requirements proceeding for the total amount of $33,610.56;
F. By letter dated August 7, 2012, ICBC indicated it had no comments on the BCOAPO PACA Application;
G. The Commission has reviewed the BCOAPO PACA Application with regard to the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines in Commission Order G‑72-07 and concluded that cost award should be approved for the amount set out in the BCOAPO PACA Application.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to sections 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission orders as follows:
1. Approval of cost award for the BCOAPO in the amount of $33,610.56 for its participation in the 2012 ICBC Revenue Requirements proceeding.
2. ICBC is directed to reimburse the above-noted participant in a timely manner.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 30th day of August 2012.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
A.W.K. Anderson
Panel Chair and Commissioner