Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-177-20

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 30, 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^th 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;

F.       By Order G-138-20 dated June 4, 2020, the BCUC granted interim approval and established a public hearing process for the review of the Application, which requested that interested parties submit their comments on Nelson Hydro’s Application;

G.     On June 24, 2020, Joe Lojpur filed comments on Nelson Hydro’s Application; and

H.      The BCUC finds that establishing a further regulatory timetable is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE, the BCUC establishes a further regulatory timetable for the review of the Application, as set out in Appendix A to this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this              30^th                    day of June 2020.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

A. K. Fung, QC

Commissioner

Attachment

Nelson Hydro

COVID-19 Relief Program Application