ORDER NUMBER
F-23-19
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
F2020 to F2021 Revenue Requirements Application
Interim Participant Assistance/Cost Award Application
BEFORE:
D. M. Morton, Panel Chair
A. K. Fung, Commissioner
E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner
R. I. Mason, Commissioner
on September 24, 2019
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On February 25, 2019, the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed its Fiscal 2020 to Fiscal 2021 (F2020–F2021) Revenue Requirements Application (Application) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) pursuant to sections 44.2, 58 to 61 and 99 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) requesting, among other things:
1. approval of a reduction of the Deferral Account Rate Rider from 5 percent to 0 percent effective April 1, 2019;
2. approval of an increase in rates by 6.85 percent effective April 1, 2019;
3. approval of an increase in rates by 0.72 percent effective April 1, 2020; and
4. approval of the F2020–F2021 Open Access Transmission Tariff rates as set out in Table 9‑8 of the Application effective April 1, 2019 and April 1, 2020, respectively;
B. By Order G-45-19 dated March 1, 2019 and Order G-146-19 dated June 28, 2019, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for the review of the Application, which includes, among other things, four rounds of information requests (IRs) to BC Hydro, intervener evidence and IRs on that evidence, rebuttal evidence and an oral hearing, followed by final and reply arguments from all parties. The regulatory timetable was amended by Order G-218-19 on September 11, 2019;
C. Zone II Ratepayers Group (Zone II RPG) registered as an intervener in the proceeding and filed an interim Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) application with the BCUC with respect to its participation in the proceeding pursuant to the BCUC’s PACA Guidelines (Interim PACA Application);
D. On August 12, 2019, BCUC staff requested further information regarding the Interim PACA Application. Zone II RPG responded on August 22, 2019 stating, among other things, that it is requesting an interim cost award that represents the following:
|
Description |
Fee |
Taxes |
Total |
|
Legal |
$28,000 |
$3,360 |
$31,360 |
|
Consulting |
$40,700 |
$2,035 |
$42,735 |
|
Total |
$68,700 |
$5,395 |
$74,095 |
E. On September 6, 2019, BC Hydro provided its comments regarding the Interim PACA Application and on September 13, 2019, Zone II RPG provided its reply comments;
F. The BCUC has reviewed the Interim PACA Application and the comments made by BC Hydro and Zone II RPG in accordance with the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines attached to Order G-97-17 and considers an interim cost award is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of the UCA, the BCUC orders as follows:
1. An interim cost award to Zone II RPG in the amount of $74,095 is awarded as an advance against the BCUC’s final cost award determination after the conclusion of the proceeding.
2. BC Hydro is directed to pay Zone II RPG the amount of the interim cost award in a timely manner.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 24th day of September 2019.
BY ORDER
D. M. Morton
Commissioner