Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-89-21

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Public Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Service Rates Application

 

BEFORE:

D. M. Morton, Panel Chair

A. K. Fung, QC, Commissioner

E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner

 

on March 23, 2021

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On March 5, 2021, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) for approval of the BC Hydro Public Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Service Rates Application (Application) pursuant to sections 59 to 61 and 90 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA);

B.      In the Application, BC Hydro seeks BCUC approvals, on both an interim and a permanent basis, of time-based rates as set out in (collectively, Proposed Rates):

                     i.            Rate Schedule 1360 for fast charging service at 25 kW stations at $0.12 per minute;

                   ii.            Rate Schedule 1560 for fast charging service at 50 kW stations at $0.21 per minute; and

                 iii.            Rate Schedule 1561 for fast charging service at 100 kW stations at $0.27 per minute;

C.      BC Hydro requests interim approval of the Proposed Rates to take effect on May 1, 2021, on a non-refundable and non-collectible basis due to administrative limitations associated with refunding or collecting the difference between interim and permanent rates for the fast charging service;

D.      In the Application, BC Hydro submits that the interim approval is requested in order to commence collecting revenue to recover as much as practical of the cost of providing the fast charging service from users of the service, which will reduce costs that must be recovered from all ratepayers;

E.       In the Application, BC Hydro proposes a public review process that includes one round of BCUC and intervener information requests (IR) and further process to be determined. BC Hydro requests that IRs be received no earlier than April 1, 2021 and responses to IR No. 1 be due no earlier than one week after May 1, 2021 due to resource constraints; and

F.       The BCUC has reviewed the Application and considers that establishing interim rates and a regulatory timetable is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       Pursuant to section 90 of the UCA, the following rates are approved on an interim and refundable basis effective May 1, 2021, pending further review by the BCUC on the Application:

a.       Rate Schedule 1360 – Public Electric Vehicle Public Fast Charging Service (25 kW Fast Charging Stations) at $0.12 per minute;

b.       Rate Schedule 1560 – Public Electric Vehicle Public Fast Charging Service (50 kW Fast charging stations) at $0.21 per minute; and

c.       Rate Schedule 1561 – Public Electric Vehicle Public Fast Charging Service (100 kW Fast charging stations) at $0.27 per minute.

2.       The BCUC will determine the manner by which any variance between approved interim rates and permanent rates, including interest if any, will be refunded to or collected from customers or a class or classes of customers at the time the BCUC renders its final decision on the Application.

3.       BC Hydro is directed to file updated tariff sheets reflecting the approved Rate Schedule 1360, Rate Schedule 1560 and Rate Schedule 1561 within 15 business days of the date of this order.

4.       The regulatory timetable for the review of the Application is established as set out in Appendix A to this order.

5.       BC Hydro must provide a copy of this order on or before Wednesday, March 31, 2021, electronically where possible, to:

a.       all registered interveners in the BC Hydro Fiscal 2022 Revenue Requirements Application (RRA) and BC Hydro Fiscal 2020 to Fiscal 2021 RRA proceedings; and

b.       the participants in BC Hydro’s December 7, 2020 public engagement workshop regarding electric vehicle public charging.

6.       BC Hydro must post the Public Notice, similar in format and content to Appendix B of this order on its Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook social media platforms, on or before Wednesday, March 31, 2021. BC Hydro must also publish weekly reminder notices on each of these platforms until the conclusion of the intervener registration period on Wednesday, April 14, 2021.

7.       In accordance with BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, parties who wish to actively participate in this proceeding must submit the Request to Intervene Form, available on the BCUC’s website at https://www.bcuc.com/get-involved/get-involved-proceeding.html, by the date established in the regulatory timetable.

8.       Any party wishing to provide comments on the Application is invited to submit a letter of comment by Monday, May 17, 2021. Letters of comment must be in the Letter of Comment Form and be submitted on the BCUC’s website, or submitted by email to commission.secretary@bcuc.com.

 

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this                23^rd              day of March 2021.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

D. M. Morton

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Public Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Service Rates Application

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BC Hydro’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Fast Charging Rates Application

 

On March 5, 2021, BC Hydro filed its Public Electric Vehicle (EV) Fast Charging Service Rates Application (Application) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC). In the Application, BC Hydro requests approval of time-based public EV charging rates as set out below:

 

 

By Order G-XX-21, the BCUC has granted interim approval of these rates, which will take effect on May 1, 2021. In addition, the BCUC has established an open and transparent public proceeding, which includes an opportunity for public comment and participation, to review BC Hydro’s Application and determine permanent rates.

 

Any parties who wish to participate in the BCUC's regulatory review process are invited to request

intervener status, register as interested parties, or submit letters of comment. All submissions will be considered by the Panel in its review of the Application.

 

For more information about the Application, please visit the Proceeding Webpage on bcuc.com under “Regulatory Activities – Current Proceedings.”

 

 

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
BC Hydro Regulatory & Rates Group 16th Floor, 333 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver, BC  V6B 5R3   E: bchydroregulatorygroup@bchydro.com   P: 604.623.4046	British Columbia Utilities Commission Suite 410, 900 Howe Street Vancouver, BC  V6Z 2N3   E: Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com   P: 604.660.4700