Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-43-20

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Residential Inclining Block Rate Pricing Principles Extension for
Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2022 Application

BEFORE:

T. A. Loski, Panel Chair

C. M. Brewer, Commissioner

M. Kresivo, QC, Commissioner

on March 4, 2020

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On February 13, 2020, pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) an application to extend to March 31, 2022 the Residential Inclining Block (RIB) rate pricing principles in Rate Schedule (RS) 1101 and RS 1121, whereby the basic charge, Step-1 energy rate and Step-2 energy rate (RIB Rate Components) would increase by the general rate increase approved by the BCUC for Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2022 (Application). BC Hydro states the extension will provide rate stability to residential customers while the BC Government’s Phase 2 of the 2018 Comprehensive Review of BC Hydro (Review), which includes consideration of BC Hydro’s rates, is in progress. The Review may inform BC Hydro’s next residential rate pricing application;

B.      By Order G-124-08 dated August 28, 2008, the BCUC approved BC Hydro’s application to implement a RIB rate for its residential customers, with approval of pricing principles for BC Hydro’s Fiscal 2009 and Fiscal 2010 periods;

C.      By Order G-47-10 dated March 15, 2010, and Order G-180-10 dated December 2, 2010, the BCUC approved, on an interim and final basis, respectively, a pricing principle for the RIB rate for BC Hydro’s Fiscal 2011 period;

D.      By Order G-45-11 dated March 14, 2011, the BCUC approved a RIB rate pricing principle for BC Hydro’s Fiscal 2012 to Fiscal 2014 periods, inclusive;

E.       By Order G-13-14 dated February 4, 2014, the BCUC approved a RIB rate pricing principle for BC Hydro’s Fiscal 2015 and Fiscal 2016 periods;

F.       By Order G-5-17 dated January 20, 2017, the BCUC approved the RIB rate pricing principle of uniformly increasing the RIB Rate Components by the amount of the approved Revenue Requirements Application (RRA) rate increases for BC Hydro’s Fiscal 2017 to Fiscal 2019 periods;

G.     By Order G-214-18 dated November 8, 2018, the BCUC approved BC Hydro’s application to extend to March 31, 2020 the RIB rate pricing principles in RS 1101 and RS 1121, whereby the basic charge, Step-1 energy rate, and Step-2 energy rate would increase by the general rate increase as approved by the BCUC for Fiscal 2020; and

H.      The BCUC has commenced its review of the Application and finds that a regulatory timetable should be established for the review of the Application.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       The regulatory timetable for the review of the Application is established as set out in Appendix A to this order.

2.       BC Hydro must provide a copy of this order and the Application within 2 business days of issuance, electronically where possible, to all registered interveners in the BC Hydro F2020 to F2021 Revenue Requirements Application proceeding and the BC Hydro 2015 Rate Design Application proceeding.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this               4th                day of March 2020.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

T. A. Loski

Commissioner

Attachment

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Residential Inclining Block Rate Pricing Principles Extension for Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2022 Application

*The BCUC requests submissions from any parties who oppose the BCUC’s approval of the Application. The submissions should include the justification for the opposition.