ORDER NUMBER
F-13-20
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
F2020 to F2021 Revenue Requirements Application
Interim Participant Assistance/Cost Award Application
BEFORE:
D. M. Morton, Panel Chair
A. K. Fung, Commissioner
E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner
R. I. Mason, Commissioner
on April 21, 2020
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On February 25, 2019, the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed its Fiscal 2020 to Fiscal 2021 (F2020–F2021) Revenue Requirements Application (Application) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) pursuant to sections 44.2, 58 to 61 and 99 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) requesting, among other things:
1. approval of a reduction of the Deferral Account Rate Rider from 5 percent to 0 percent effective April 1, 2019;
2. approval of an increase in rates by 6.85 percent effective April 1, 2019;
3. approval of an increase in rates by 0.72 percent effective April 1, 2020; and
4. approval of the F2020–F2021 Open Access Transmission Tariff rates as set out in Table 9‑8 of the Application effective April 1, 2019 and April 1, 2020, respectively;
B. By orders G-45-19, G-146-19, G-218-19, G-268-19, G-279-19, G-312-19 and G-63-20, the BCUC established and later amended a regulatory timetable for the review of the Application, which includes, among other things, four rounds of information requests (IRs) to BC Hydro, intervener evidence and IRs on that evidence, rebuttal evidence and an oral hearing, followed by final and reply arguments from all parties, and an oral phase of argument, if required;
C. Zone II Ratepayers Group (Zone II RPG) registered as an intervener in the proceeding and filed an interim Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) application with the BCUC with respect to its participation in the proceeding pursuant to the BCUC’s PACA Guidelines (First Interim PACA Application);
D. On September 24, 2019, the BCUC awarded an interim cost award to Zone II RPG in the amount of $74,095, with respect to the First Interim PACA Application, as an advance against the BCUC’s final cost award determination after the conclusion of the proceeding;
E. On March 25, 2020, Zone II RPG filed a second interim PACA application with the BCUC with respect to its participation in the proceeding pursuant to the BCUC’s PACA Guidelines (Second Interim PACA Application), stating, among other things, that it is requesting a second interim cost award that represents the following:
|
Description |
Fee |
Taxes |
Total |
|
Legal |
$47,600.00 |
$5,712.00 |
$53,312.00 |
|
Consulting |
$27,750.00 |
$1,387.50 |
$29,137.50 |
|
Total |
$75,350.00 |
$7,099.50 |
$82,449.50 |
F. On April 15, 2020, BC Hydro provided its comments regarding the Second Interim PACA Application and stated that it is consistent with the BCUC’s PACA Guidelines and that it has no objections or concerns; and
G. The BCUC has reviewed the Second Interim PACA Application and the comments made by BC Hydro in accordance with the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines attached to Order G-97-17 and considers a second interim cost award is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of the UCA, the BCUC orders as follows:
1. A second interim cost award to Zone II RPG in the amount of $82,449.50 is awarded as an advance against the BCUC’s final cost award determination after the conclusion of the proceeding.
2. BC Hydro is directed to pay Zone II RPG the amount of the second interim cost award in a timely manner.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 21st day of April 2020.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
D. M. Morton
Commissioner