IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Inc.
Terms of Reference for Residential Inclining Block Rate Evaluation Report
BEFORE: L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner
September 18, 2013
O R D E R
WHEREAS:
A. On March 31, 2011, FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) filed an application for approval of a Residential Inclining Block (RIB) Rate (Application) to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) pursuant to sections 58 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act;
B. On January 13, 2012, the Commission issued Order G-3-12, which directed FortisBC, amongst other things, to implement a RIB rate consisting of a customer charge, a threshold and two block rates by no later than July 31, 2012, and to provide the Commission with a RIB Rate Evaluation Report (Report);
C. The RIB Rate was implemented on July 1, 2012, in accordance with Order G-3-12. FortisBC renamed the RIB Rate to the Residential Conservation Rate (RCR) upon implementation;
D. On August 22, 2013, the Commission issued Order G-127-13 directing FortisBC to file a preliminary RCR Evaluation Report (Report) due to a significant number of complaints received by the Commission regarding the RCR;
E. On September 11, 2013, the Commission received a letter from FortisBC requesting a variance to Order G-127-13. FortisBC requested that Directive 1 be modified so the Report covers the period from the date of implementation to June 30, 2013, instead of July 31, 2013, to allow for comparative reporting;
F. The Commission considers the requested change is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE, the Commission pursuant to section 99 of the Utilities Commission Act, orders as follows:
1. FortisBC Inc. must submit to the Commission a preliminary Residential Conservation Rate Evaluation Report as directed by Order G-127-13. The report will include data from the date of implementation to June 30, 2013. For comparability purposes, data from the month of July 2013 is no longer required in the Report. All other directives made by Order G-127-13 remain in effect.
2. The Report is to be filed with the Commission by no later than October 31, 2013.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 18th day of September 2013.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
L. F. Kelsey
Commissioner