Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473

and

Applications for Participant Assistance/Cost Award

in the 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

                                N.E. MacMurchy, Commissioner                               October 18, 2012

                                B.A. Magnan, Commissioner

                                R.D. Revel, Commissioner

O R D E R

WHEREAS:

A.      On June 29, 2012, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission), pursuant to section 6(a) of the Large General Service (LGS) Rate Application (LGSRA) Negotiated Settlement Agreement (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);

B.      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 Application.  All three of these Interveners participated in the LGSRA NSA;

C.      On August 31, 2012, the Commission issued Order G-115-12 approving the Application as filed;

D.      On August 30, 2012, BCSEA filed an application for a Participant Assistance Cost Award (PACA).  By way of letter dated September 20, 2012 to the Commission, BC Hydro provided comments on BCSEA’s PACA Application stating that funding should be awarded as filed as BCSEA participated in the process by asking questions through information requests as well as submitting a final argument;

E.       On September 17, 2012, BCPSO filed a PACA Application followed by CEC on September 28, 2012.  By way of letter dated October 16, 2012 to the Commission, BC Hydro provided comments on the BCPSO and CEC PACA Applications stating that funding should be awarded as filed for the same reasons as provided for BCSEA;

F.       The Commission has reviewed the PACA Applications with regard to the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines in Commission Order G-72-07 and has concluded that cost awards should be approved as filed.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission orders as follows:

1.          Cost awards are approved for the following Interveners for their participation in the proceeding on British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority’s Application to Amend Tariff Schedule 15xx to Accelerate the Medium General Service Conservation Rate Implementation Schedule:

2.      BC Hydro is directed to reimburse the above-noted Participants for the awarded amounts in a timely manner.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this          19^th           day of October 2012.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                                Original Signed by:

                                                                                                                                L.F. Kelsey

                                                                                                                                Commissioner