Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-138-20

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

Nelson Hydro

COVID-19 Relief Program Application

BEFORE:

A. K. Fung, QC, Panel Chair

E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner

on June 4, 2020

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On May 13, 2020, Nelson Hydro filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) seeking approval for its relief program it has made available to its customers due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Application);

B.      Nelson Hydro is owned and operated by the City of Nelson and is exempt from regulation under the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) to the extent it is serving customers within its municipal boundaries. Accordingly, the BCUC’s review of the Application pertains solely to Nelson Hydro’s non-municipal, or rural, ratepayers;

C.      In the Application, Nelson Hydro is seeking approval of the following:

(i)                  The temporary suspension of the existing late-payment penalty for any amounts owed from May 4, 2020 and June 30, 2020;

D.      On May 20, 2020, Nelson Hydro submitted an amendment to the May 13, 2020 application requesting that the BCUC approve the requests on an interim basis until a final decision is made;

E.       On May 29, 2020, the BCUC issued information requests to Nelson Hydro regarding the Application and Nelson Hydro filed its responses on June 3, 2020; and

F.       The BCUC has reviewed the Application and evidence of Nelson Hydro and finds that interim approval is warranted. The BCUC considers that the establishment of a public hearing process and regulatory timetable is also warranted.

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to sections 59 to 61 and 91 of the UCA, the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       Nelson Hydro is granted interim approval to:

(i)      Temporarily suspend the existing late-payment penalty for any amounts owed from May 4, 2020 and June 30, 2020;

2.       Nelson Hydro must post a copy of this order on the City of Nelson website and must provide written notice of the Application and a copy of this order to all non-municipal ratepayers by letter or by publishing same in the appropriate local news publications by no later than Friday, June 12, 2020.

3.       A public hearing process is established, as set out in the regulatory timetable attached as Appendix A to this Order.

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

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

A. K. Fung, QC

Commissioner

Attachment

Nelson Hydro

COVID-19 Relief Program Application