Orders

 

ORDER NUMBER

G-152-20

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

Catalyst Paper Corporation

Request to Reduce Rate Schedule 1893 Baselines

 

BEFORE:

B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

 

on June 12, 2020

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On May 21, 2020, pursuant to sections 58 to 61, 89 and 90 of the Utilities Commission Act and section 15 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, Catalyst Paper Corporation (Catalyst) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) a request to reduce Rate Schedule (RS) 1893 Baselines at Catalyst (Application);

B.      In the Application, Catalyst seeks BCUC approval for adjustments to British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) RS 1893 customer High Load Hours (HLH) baseline, Low Load Hours (LLH) baseline and Monthly Reference Demand (Demand) at Crofton and Port Alberni sites for the June to August 2020 billing periods;

C.      Catalyst submits that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a reduction in demand for pulp and paper and as a result, Catalyst has had to curtail production at its facilities resulting in electricity consumption much lower than its HLH and LLH baselines. An interim adjustment to its baselines and Demand would allow it adequate time to realize new market opportunities;

D.      Pursuant to the Tariff Supplement No. 74 Customer Baseline Load (CBL) Determination Guidelines, all CBLs are subject to final approval by the BCUC;

E.       By Order G-129-20A dated On June 9, 2020, the BCUC approved adjustments to Catalyst’s HLH baseline, LLH baseline and Demand on an interim and refundable basis and established a regulatory timetable for review of the Application;

F.       On June 9, 2020 the BCUC received a letter of comment from BC Hydro requesting that it be granted intervener status and the opportunity to submit evidence and argument in the public hearing;

G.     The BCUC has reviewed BC Hydro’s letter of comment and considers that an amendment to the regulatory timetable is warranted.

 

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       The regulatory timetable is amended as set out in Appendix A to this order.

2.       BC Hydro must provide a copy of this order and the Application by June 19, 2020, electronically where possible, to its transmission service rate customers.

3.       Parties who wish to actively participate in the regulatory proceeding are to register with the BCUC by completing a Request to Intervene Form, available on the BCUC’s website at http://www.bcuc.com/Registration-Intervener-1.aspx, by the date established in the Regulatory Timetable attached as Appendix A to this order, and in accordance with the BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure attached to Order G-15-19.

4.       Parties who wish to receive electronic notification of filings for this proceeding can register online as an interested party available on the BCUC’s website at http://www.bcuc.com/Registration-InterestedParty.aspx, by the date established in the Regulatory Timetable, attached as Appendix A to this order and in accordance with the BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure attached to Order
G-15-19.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this                  12^th                day of June 2020.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

B. A. Magnan

Commissioner

 

 

 

Catalyst Paper Corporation

Request to Reduce Rate Schedule 1893 Baselines