Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-249-20

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 October 5, 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.       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;

F.       By June 25, 2020, the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) and the British Columbia Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA) registered as interveners;

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.        By Order G-228-20 dated September 3, 2020, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable to allow for the submission of Catalyst’s rebuttal evidence, one round of IRs on rebuttal evidence and final arguments;

J.        By Order G-240-20 dated September 22, 2020, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable to allow for an extension in the submission of IRs on rebuttal evidence and final arguments;

K.      On September 30, 2020, the BCUC received confirmation that neither BC Hydro nor the BCSEA would file IRs with respect to Catalyst’s rebuttal evidence; and

L.       The BCUC has reviewed the evidence and submissions made to date, and considers that an amendment to the regulatory timetable is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC further amends the regulatory timetable as set out in Appendix A to this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this              5^th            day of October 2020.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

B. A. Magnan

Commissioner

Catalyst Paper Corporation

Request to Reduce Rate Schedule 1893 Baselines