Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-250-19

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

FortisBC Energy Inc. and FortisBC Inc.

Evacuation Relief Tariff Amendment Application

 

BEFORE:

A. K. Fung, QC, Panel Chair

T. A. Loski, Commissioner

 

on October 22, 2019

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On August 1, 2018, pursuant to sections 59–62 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), FortisBC Energy Inc. and FortisBC Inc. (collectively, FBC) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for approval for tariff changes to the FBC General Terms and Conditions (FBC Application). The changes to the FBC tariff are to permit evacuation relief for customers who are subject to an evacuation order;

B.      By Order G-170-18, the BCUC determined that a hearing regarding the FBC Application would be established at a later date;

C.      On August 8, 2019, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) applied to the BCUC for the following approvals (Application):

1.       pursuant to section 63 of the UCA, BC Hydro seeks consent to waive certain charges for residential, small general service, irrigation and private outdoor lighting service customers in BC Hydro’s service territory subject to evacuation orders from the period starting December 5, 2018 and until final BCUC approval of the Evacuation Relief Tariff Application and Regulatory Account Treatment (Part 1 of the Application); and

2.       pursuant to sections 59-62 of the UCA, BC Hydro seeks approval for tariff changes to the BC Hydro’s Electric Tariff. The changes to the tariff are to permit credit relief or waiver of charges to customers who are subject to an evacuation order. BC Hydro also seeks approval for the deferral of revenue impacts related to this credit relief and waivers of charges to the Storm Restoration Costs Regulatory Account (Part 2 of the Application).

D.      Following a review of Part 1 of the Application, on October 3, 2019, by Order G-239-19, the BCUC consented, pursuant to section 63 of the UCA, to BC Hydro providing bill credits and waivers to customers affected by evacuation orders; and

E.       The BCUC has reviewed both the FBC Application and BC Hydro’s Part 2 of the Application and finds that regulatory efficiency warrants that both applications be heard at the same time.

 

NOW THEREFORE, the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       The FBC Application and BC Hydro’s Part 2 of the Application (Applications) will be heard at the same time.

2.       A regulatory timetable for the review of the Applications is attached as Appendix A to this Order. Parties who wish to actively participate in the proceeding are to register with the BCUC by completing a Request to Intervene Form, available on the BCUC’s website under Get Involved, by the date established in the regulatory timetable and in accordance with the BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure attached to Order G-15-19.

3.       FBC must provide a copy of this order within two business days of issuance, electronically where possible, to all registered interveners in the:

a.       FortisBC Energy Inc. Annual Review for 2019 Rates; and

b.      FortisBC Inc. 2017 Cost of Service Analysis and Rate Design Application.

4.       FBC must publish notice of this proceeding on its Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook social media platforms, on or before Thursday, October 24, 2019.

5.       FBC and BC Hydro must jointly publish in print/display-ad format, on or before Tuesday, October 29, 2019, the Notice of Application attached as Appendix B to this order, in an effort to provide adequate notice to those who have an interest or may be impacted by these Applications. Print advertising must include The Vancouver Sun and The Province.

6.       FBC must make copies of the FBC Application and non-confidential supporting material available for inspection on its website, at its head offices at FortisBC Energy Inc., 16705 Fraser Highway, Surrey, BC, V4N 0E8; FortisBC Inc., Suite 100, 1975 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 7V7; and the BCUC’s office at Suite 410, 900 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this             22nd            day of October 2019.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

A. K. Fung, QC

Commissioner

 

Attachment

FortisBC Energy Inc. and FortisBC Inc.

Evacuation Relief Tariff Amendment Application

 

 

 

We want to hear from you

 

BC Hydro British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, FortisBC Energy Inc. and FortisBC Inc. Evacuation Relief Tariff Amendment Applications   British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority’s (BC Hydro) and FortisBC Energy Inc. and FortisBC Inc. (collectively, FBC) are seeking approval from the BC Utilities Commission for changes to their Terms and Conditions (Tariffs), to permit evacuation relief for customers who are subject to an evacuation order. More information on the application can be found at www.bcuc.com on our “Current Proceedings” page, and hard copies of the applications are also available for review at the BCUC, BC Hydro and FBC head offices.

 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE	IMPORTANT DATES
•         Submit a letter of comment •         Register as an interested party •         Request intervener status*	•         Friday, November 8, 2019 – Intervener Registration Deadline •         Friday, November 22, 2019 – Intervener Information Requests to BC Hydro and FBC deadline
All submissions received, including letters of comment, are placed on the public record, posted on the BCUC’s website (www.bcuc.com) and provided to the Panel and all participants in the proceeding. For more information on getting involved, please visit our website (www.bcuc.com/get-involved) or contact us at the information below.   *Intervener status may be requested by those who want to actively participate in the proceeding, are directly and/or sufficiently affected, and those who have relevant information or expertise and that wish to file evidence for the BCUC Panel and other interveners to consider.

 

GET MORE INFORMATION

 

BC Hydro Regulatory & Rates Group		British Columbia Utilities Commission	FortisBC
	16th Floor, 333 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver, BC  V6B 5R3	Suite 410, 900 Howe Street Vancouver, BC Canada   V6Z 2N3	16705 Fraser Highway, Surrey, BC, V4N 0E8   1975 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 7V7
	E: bchydroregulatorygroup@bchydro.com	E: Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com	E: gas.regulatory.affairs@fortisbc.com
	P: 604.623.4046	P: 604.660.4700	P: 604.592.7664