ORDER NUMBER
G-216-20
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Inc. (FBC)
Application for Approval of Tariff Changes to Permit Relief for Customers Under Evacuation Orders;
BEFORE:
A. K. Fung, QC, Panel Chair
T.A. Loski, Commissioner
on August 14, 2020
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On August 1, 2018, pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) and FortisBC Inc. (FBC) (collectively, FortisBC) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for approval for tariff changes to the FEI’s General Terms and Conditions and FBC’s Terms and Conditions (Tariffs) (FortisBC Application). The changes to FortisBC’s Tariffs are to permit evacuation relief for customers who are subject to an evacuation order;
B. By Order G-170-18, the BCUC determined that a hearing regarding the FortisBC Application would be established at a later date;
C. On August 8, 2019, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) applied to the BCUC for the following approvals (BC Hydro Application):
1. Pursuant to section 63 of the UCA, BC Hydro seeks consent to waive certain charges for residential, small general service, irrigation and private outdoor lighting service customers in BC Hydro’s service territory subject to evacuation orders from the period starting December 5, 2018 and until final BCUC approval of the Evacuation Relief Tariff Application and Regulatory Account Treatment (Part 1 of the BC Hydro Application); and
2. Pursuant to sections 59-61 of the UCA, BC Hydro seeks approval for tariff changes to the BC Hydro’s Electric Tariff. The changes to the tariff are to permit credit relief or waiver of charges to customers who are subject to an evacuation order. BC Hydro also seeks approval for the deferral of revenue impacts related to this credit relief and waivers of charges to the Storm Restoration Costs Regulatory Account (Part 2 of the BC Hydro Application);
D. Following a review of Part 1 of the BC Hydro Application, on October 3, 2019, by Order G-239-19, the BCUC consented, pursuant to section 63 of the UCA, to BC Hydro providing bill credits and waivers to customers affected by evacuation orders;
E. By Orders G-249-19 and G-250-19, the BCUC found that regulatory efficiency warranted both Part 2 of the BC Hydro Application and the FortisBC Application be heard at the same time, and established a regulatory timetable to jointly review the applications;
F. British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization, Active Support Against Poverty, Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of BC, Disability Alliance BC, Tenants Resource and Advisory Centre and Together Against Poverty Society (BCOAPO et al.) and the Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (the CEC) registered as interveners in the proceeding;
G. By Order G-256-19, dated October 24, 2019, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable to delay the proceeding;
H. By Order G-68-20, dated March 26, 2020, the BCUC established the remainder of the regulatory process including a second round of information requests, as well as written final and reply arguments; and
I. The BCUC has considered the FortisBC Application, the evidence and submissions of the parties and finds that approval of the following is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 59 to 61 of the UCA, the BCUC orders as follows:
1. FBC’s Application to amend FBC’s Terms and Conditions to provide evacuation relief, as revised during the course of this proceeding, is approved.
2. FBC is to file the amended Terms and Conditions in tariff supplement form for endorsement by the BCUC within 30 days of the date of this order.
3. FBC’s request to record revenue variances related to evacuation relief in the FBC flow-through deferral account without a forecast figure is approved.
4. FBC is directed to separately track revenue variance associated with evacuation relief granted in the FBC flow-through deferral account, and to report this variance to the BCUC as part of its Annual Report.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 14th day of August 2020.
BY ORDER
Original Signed By:
A. K. Fung, QC
Commissioner