Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-302-20

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

2020 Street Lighting Rate Application

 

BEFORE:

W. M. Everett, QC, Panel Chair

C. M. Brewer, Commissioner

B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

 

on November 30, 2020

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On November 12, 2020, the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) an application seeking approval or consents pursuant to sections 58 to 61 and section 63 of the Utilities Commission Act (Application) as follows:

                     i.            Approval of proposed amendments to Rate Schedule (RS) 1701 - Overhead Street Lighting, to allow for the provision of this service by way of Light Emitting Diode (LED) streetlights on an interim and final basis;

                   ii.            Consent to rescind RS 1755 – Private Outdoor Lighting, and approval of amendments to RS 1755 to facilitate its rescindment;

                 iii.            Approval to waive Service Connection Charges for RS 1755 customers who request a new service for their light; and

                 iv.            Approval of amendments to BC Hydro’s Electric Tariff Terms and Conditions (Electric Tariff), street lighting and small general service rate schedules related to the under and over-billing of unmetered accounts, mixed use loads, as well as housekeeping and other amendments;

B.      Under RS 1701, BC Hydro provides all‑inclusive monthly rates that recover energy, demand, capital, operating and maintenance, and overhead costs for High Pressure Sodium Vapour (HP Sodium Vapour) and Mercury Vapour (MV) streetlights. RS 1701 does not include street lighting provisions or rates under which BC Hydro can bill for LED street lighting;

C.      The ballasts of older HP Sodium Vapour and MV streetlights may contain Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) compounds. Pursuant to the Federal Government’s PCB Regulations, BC Hydro is required to eliminate all PCB-containing equipment by December 31, 2025;

D.      BC Hydro seeks to undertake a streetlight replacement program that will see all streetlights under RS 1701 service replaced with LED streetlights over approximately three years;

E.       Under RS 1755, BC Hydro provides lighting service on private property. BC Hydro seeks approval to rescind RS 1755, with removal of lights starting in 2022 and service terminated effective December 31, 2025;

F.       On August 12, 2020, BC Hydro completed a virtual Streetlight Rate Design workshop which discussed the LED streetlight program as well as an overview of preliminary rates; and

G.      The BCUC has reviewed the Application and considers the establishment of a public hearing is warranted.

 

 

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to sections 58 to 61, 63 and 89 of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       BC Hydro is granted approval of RS 1701 LED rates, on an interim, refundable and collectible basis, as follows effective as of December 1, 2020:

 

2.       BC Hydro is granted approval of RS 1701 amendments, on an interim, refundable and collectible basis, as follows effective as of December 1, 2020:

a.       Amendment to RS 1701 to reflect the inclusion of LED lighting fixtures;

b.       Amendment to RS 1701 to reflect that HP Sodium Vapour fixtures are no longer available for new installations; and

c.       Amendment to RS 1701 to remove the reference to lamps since LED luminaires do not contain lamps.

3.       In accordance with the BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure attached to Order G-5-19, the regulatory timetable for the review of the Application is established, as set out in Appendix A to this order. Parties who wish to actively participate in the proceeding are to register with the BCUC by completing a Request to Intervene Form, available on the BCUC website, by the date established in the regulatory timetable.

4.       BC Hydro is directed to provide public notice, attached as Appendix C to this order, and a copy of the Application, this order and regulatory timetable, electronically where possible, to all RS 1701 customers, RS 1755 customers, registered attendees of the August 12, 2020 BC Hydro Streetlight Rate Design workshop, registered interveners in BC Hydro’s 2015 Rate Design proceeding and any other affected parties including but not limited to Union of British Columbia Municipalities, British Columbia First Nations Summit, Union of BC Chiefs and British Columbia Assembly of First Nations by December 8, 2020.

5.       BC Hydro must provide notice of the Application on its website, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook social media platforms by December 8, 2020.

6.       Members of the public are invited to submit letters of comment on the Application. Letters of comment must be received by the BCUC by the last date included in the proceeding’s regulatory timetable before final arguments, unless the BCUC directs otherwise. Letters of comment that are received late will not be considered by the BCUC in the proceeding. Letters of comment must be in the Letter of Comment Form, available on the BCUC website, and submitted by email to commission.secretary@bcuc.com or by mail, courier or personal delivery to the BCUC, Suite 410, 900 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2N3.

7.       BC Hydro is to file amended Tariff Pages for endorsement by the BCUC within 30 days of the date of this order.

8.       BC Hydro is directed to refund/recover the difference between the interim rates and permanent rates, as determined by the BCUC following its final determinations on the Application, with interest calculated on any refundable/recoverable amounts at BC Hydro’s weighted average cost of debt.

 

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

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

W. M. Everett, QC

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                            

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

2020 Street Lighting Rate Application

 

 

 

 

Proposed RS 1701 Final Rates

 

 

 

BRITISH COLUMBIA HYDRO AND POWER AUTHORITY 2020 STREET LIGHTING RATE APPLICATION

On November 12, 2020, the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) an application to amend street lighting provisions, including street lighting service rates under Rate Schedule (RS) 1701, for lighting of public highways, streets and lanes where BC Hydro owns, installs and maintains its streetlights (Application). Pursuant to the Federal Government’s Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Regulations, BC Hydro is required to eliminate all PCB-containing equipment by December 31, 2025. BC Hydro seeks to undertake a streetlight replacement program that will see all streetlights under RS 1701 service replaced with LED streetlights over approximately three years, commencing in December 2020.

 

 

For more information on getting involved, please visit our website (www.bcuc.com/get-involved) or contact us at the information below.

 

GET MORE INFORMATION
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority 333 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver, BC  V6B 5R3   E: bchydroregulatorygroup@bchydro.com   P: 1 (800) 224-9376	British Columbia Utilities Commission Suite 410, 900 Howe Street Vancouver, BC Canada  V6Z 2N3   E: Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com   P: 604.660.4700