Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-130-16A

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

F2017 to F2019 Revenue Requirements Application

BEFORE:

D. M. Morton, Commissioner / Panel Chair

D. J. Enns, Commissioner

K. A. Keilty, Commissioner

on August 9, 2016

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On February 26, 2016, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission), pursuant to section 9(1) of Direction No. 7 to the Commission (Direction No. 7), sections 58 to 60, 89 and 90 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) for approval of an interim refundable rate increase of 4.0 percent, effective April 1, 2016;

B.      On March 22, 2016, the Commission issued Order G-40-16 approving a 4.0 percent interim refundable rates increase effective April 1, 2016;

C.      On July 28, 2016, BC Hydro filed its Fiscal 2017 to Fiscal 2019 Revenue Requirements Application (Application) pursuant to sections 58 to 61 of the UCA requesting, among other things:

                     i.            final approval to increase rates by an average of 4.0 percent effective April 1, 2016, 3.5 percent effective April 1, 2017 and 3.0 percent effective April 1, 2018, which reflect the rate caps set out in Direction No. 7;

                   ii.            final approval of Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) rates effective April  1, 2016, April 1, 2017 and April 1, 2018 as set out in the Application;

                  iii.            approval for changes and additions to certain regulatory and deferral accounts; and

                 iv.            acceptance of the demand-side measurements expenditure schedules;

D.      On July 29, 2016, BC Hydro filed a letter requesting that confidential information in Appendix J be held confidential pursuant to the Commission’s Confidential Filing Practice Directives and section 42 of the Administrative Tribunal Act for the reasons as set out in the letter;

E.       BC Hydro proposes a regulatory review process than includes a procedural conference and two rounds of written information requests; and

F.       The Commission has reviewed the Application, considers a procedural conference is warranted and a regulatory timetable for the initial review of the Application should be established.

NOW THEREFORE the British Columbia Utilities Commission orders as follows:

1.       The Regulatory Timetable for the initial review of the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority’s (BC Hydro) Fiscal 2017 to Fiscal 2019 Revenue Requirements Application (Application) is established as set out in Appendix A to this order.

2.       The Procedural Conference, as established in the Regulatory Timetable, will address the process for the review of the Application, the scope of the review, intervener’s intentions to file evidence and whether the review of the demand-side measurements expenditure schedules should be heard as a separate proceeding. The British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) will issue further instructions prior to the Procedural Conference.  

3.       Interveners who wish to participate in the regulatory proceeding are to register with the Commission by completing a Request to Intervene Form, available on the Commission’s website at http://www.bcuc.com/Registration-Intervener-1.aspx, by the date established in the Regulatory Timetable attached as Appendix A to this order and in accordance with the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. Interveners will be informed if their request to intervene has been granted no later than 2 days after the intervener registration deadline.

4.       The request to hold certain information in Appendix J as confidential is approved due to the commercially sensitive nature of the information.

5.       BC Hydro must provide a copy of this order, electronically where possible, to all parties who participated in the BC Hydro F2012 to F2014 Revenue Requirements Application proceeding and the BC Hydro 2015 Rate Design Application.

6.       BC Hydro must publish in display-ad format, as soon as possible, the Notice of Application attached as Appendix B to this order, in such appropriate news publications as may properly provide adequate notice to the public in its service area.

7.       The Application and supporting material will be made available for inspection at the head office of BC Hydro located at 1600–333 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, BC, and at the Commission’s offices at 6th Floor, 900 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC. BC Hydro is also to make the Application available on its website at http://www.bchydro.com.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this       9^th          day of August, 2016.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

D. M. Morton

Commissioner

Attachment

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

REGULATORY TIMETABLE

*Tentative dates will be confirmed after the procedural conference.

Have Your Say – BC Hydro Revenue Requirements Application

On July 28, 2016 British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed its F2017-F2019 Revenue Requirements Application requesting approval for permanent general rate increases of:

•         4.0 percent effective April 1,2016,

•         3.5 percent effective April 1, 2017 and

•         3.0 effective April 1, 2018.

The general rate increases reflect the cap as set out in BC Hydro’s 10 Year Rates Plan and as directed by section 9 of Direction No.7 to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission). https://www.bchydro.com/news/press_centre/news_releases/2016/10-year-rates-plan.html

The Application also requests approval for: final Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) rates for F2017, F2018 and F2019; changes and additions to certain regulatory/deferral accounts, and acceptance of the demand-side measurements (DSM) expenditure schedules.

On March 22, 2016, pursuant to Order G-40-16, the Commission approved the rate increase of 4.0, effective April 1, 2016, on an interim and refundable basis, pending a final determination on the Application.

How to get involved

Request intervener status - Persons who are directly or sufficiently affected by the Commission’s decision or have relevant information or expertise and that wish to actively participate in the proceeding can request intervener status by submitting a completed Request to Intervene Form by Thursday, August 25, 2016. Forms are available on the Commission’s website at www.bcuc.com. Interveners will receive notification of all non-confidential correspondence and filed documentation, and should provide an email address if available. 

Register as an interested party - Persons not expecting to participate, but who have an interest in the proceeding, should register as interested parties through the Commission’s website. Interested parties receive electronic notice of submissions and the decision when it is released.

Submit a letter of comment - Letters of comment may be submitted using the Letter of Comment Form found online at www.bcuc.com. By participating and/or providing comment on the application, you agree to your comments being placed on the public record and posted on the Commission’s website. All submissions and/or correspondence received, including letters of comment are placed on the public record, posted on the Commission’s website and provided to the Panel and all participants in the proceeding.

Attend the Procedural Conference - If you wish to attend the Procedural Conference please register with the Commission Secretary using the contact information provided at the end of this notice.

View the application - The application and all supporting documentation are available on the Commission’s website www.bcuc.com on the “Current Applications” page. If you would like to review the material in hard copy, it is available to be viewed at the locations below:

For more information – To get involved in a Commission proceeding please see the Rules of Practice and Procedure available at www.bcuc.com. Alternatively, persons can request a copy of the Rules of Practice and Procedure in writing. All forms are available on the Commission’s website or can be requested in writing.

For all other inquiries please contact Laurel Ross, Acting Commission Secretary using the contact information above.