Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-228-20

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 September 3, 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 much lower electricity consumption 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.      By Order G-129-20A dated June 10, 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;

E.       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;

F.       By Order G-152-20 dated June 12, 2020, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable to allow for intervener registration, one round of BCUC information requests (IRs) and further process to be determined;

G.     By Order G-160-20 dated June 18, 2020, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable to allow for intervener written submissions on Catalyst’s June 12, 2020 request to amend the regulatory timetable as set out in Appendix A to Order G-152-20;

H.      By Order G-207-20 dated July 31, 2020, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable to allow for the submission of intervener evidence, one round of IRs on evidence and further process to be determined;

I.        On August 11, 2020, BC Hydro filed intervener evidence with the BCUC;

J.        On August 18, 2020, the British Columbia Sustainable Energy Association filed BC Hydro IR No. 1 with the BCUC;

K.      On August 20, 2020, the BCUC issued BC Hydro IR No. 1;

L.       On August 28, 2020, Catalyst filed an extension request (Extension Request) to its original Application, to include baseline adjustments for September, October and November 2020;

M.    Catalyst requests that the baseline and Demand load tables in the Extension Request be held in confidence as they contain commercially sensitive information; and

N.     The BCUC considers interim approval of the Extension Request warranted and considers an amendment to the regulatory timetable is also warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       The HLH baseline, LLH baseline and Demand ajustments, as set out in the Extension Request, are approved on an interim and refundable basis, effective September 1, 2020 to November 30, 2020, or until further BCUC order.

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

3.       The BCUC will hold confidential the baseline and Demand load tables in the Extension Request as they contain commercially sensitive information.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this            3^rd           day of September 2020.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

B. A. Magnan

Commissioner

Catalyst Paper Corporation

Request to Reduce Rate Schedule 1893 Baselines