ORDER NUMBER
G-224-19
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
Extension Request to File the Transmission Service Permanent Freshet Energy
Rate Application
BEFORE:
B. A. Magnan, Commissioner
on September 13, 2019
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On August 23, 2019, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for a one-month extension to file its application for a permanent Freshet Energy Rate (Freshet Rate), together with its evaluation report for the 2019 Freshet Rate Pilot, from September 30, 2019 to October 31, 2019 (Extension Request).
B. As part of the 2015 Rate Design Application (2015 RDA) filed on September 24, 2015, BC Hydro sought approval for a new optional rate schedule 1892 – Transmission Service – Freshet Energy (RS 1892), which provides participating customers market pricing for incremental consumption during the freshet period (May 1 to July 31 inclusive) on a pilot basis ending December 31, 2017 (the Freshet Rate Pilot). RS 1892 was approved by BCUC Order G-17-16. BC Hydro was also directed to file three Freshet Rate Pilot evaluation reports: two preliminary reports and one final report;
C. On December 8, 2016, in compliance with Order G-17-16, BC Hydro filed its preliminary Freshet Rate Pilot evaluation report for year one (Appendix D to the report was filed on January 27, 2017);
D. On December 8, 2017, BC Hydro, along with the submission of its preliminary Freshet Rate Pilot evaluation report for year two, applied for approval, pursuant to sections 58 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act, for an extension of the termination date of RS 1892 to include a third year with the rate schedule expiring on December 31, 2018. BC Hydro also proposed to extend the timeline for filing the final Freshet Rate Pilot evaluation report from the spring of 2018, as outlined in the 2015 RDA, to the fall of 2018.
E. By Order G-45-18, the BCUC approved the requested extension of the rate along with the proposed timing of the final evaluation report and, subsequently, BC Hydro filed its final Freshet Rate Pilot evaluation report on December 17, 2018;
F. On April 8, 2019, BC Hydro filed an application for an extension to RS 1892, effective May 1, 2019 until December 31, 2019. The Association of Major Power Customers of BC and the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources both submitted letters of support for BC Hydro’s application and for a permanent Freshet Rate;
G. By Order G-106-19, the BCUC extended RS 1892 for the 2019 freshet period. The BCUC also directed BC Hydro to submit an evaluation report for the Freshet Rate Pilot for 2019, on or before October 31, 2019, and to file an application with the BCUC for a permanent Freshet Rate on or before September 30, 2019; and
H. The BCUC has reviewed the Extension Request and finds that an extension to the filing date is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 77 of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC approves the Extension Request and directs BC Hydro to file its application for a permanent Freshet Rate, together with the 2019 Freshet Rate Pilot evaluation report, no later than October 31, 2019.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 13th day of September 2019.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
B. A. Magnan
Commissioner