Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-332-21

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

Nelson Hydro

Cost of Service Analysis and Rate Design Application

BEFORE:

R. I. Mason, Panel Chair

A. K. Fung, QC, Commissioner

on November 12, 2021

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On November 27, 2020, Nelson Hydro filed a Cost of Service Analysis (COSA) and Rate Design Application (RDA) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) (Application);

B.      Nelson Hydro is owned and operated by the City of Nelson and is exempt from regulation under the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) to the extent it is serving customers within its municipal boundaries. Accordingly, the BCUC’s review of the Application pertains solely to Nelson Hydro’s non-municipal, or rural, ratepayers;

C.      In the Application, Nelson Hydro requests approval of the following:

1.       Proposed return on equity for the Rural service area at 9.25% to be used for future rate applications;

2.       Nelson Hydro’s Policies approved by City Council relating to the non-municipal portion of the utility (i.e. the Allocation Factors Policy, Generation Rates Policy, Debt Policy, and Deferral Account Policy);

3.       The COSA; and

4.       Proposed rate changes to Rural residential rates effective September 1, 2021 (to be phased-in over a three-year period with follow-up adjustments effective September 1, 2022 and September 1, 2023);

D.      By Order G-346-20, G-117-21, G-224-21, and G-224-21, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for review of the Application which included intervener registration, three rounds of BCUC and intervener information requests (IRs) and submissions for further process;

E.       By Order G-278-21 dated September 22, 2021, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for Nelson Hydro and Intervener’s Final Arguments and Nelson Hydro’s Reply Argument.

F.       By letter dated November 10, 2021, British Columbia’s Old Age Pensioners’ Organization (BCOAPO) requested an extension to file its Final Argument. BCOAPO submits that due to several competing deadlines, BCOAPO’s consultant will not be available until November 15, 2021 and is required for technical assistance, therefore an extension to November 22, 2021 to complete its Final Argument is requested; and

G.      The Panel has reviewed the extension request and determines that an amendment to the regulatory timetable is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC amends the regulatory timetable established by Order G-278-21. The amended regulatory timetable for the review of the Application is attached as Appendix A to this order

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this           12^th            day of November 2021.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

R. I. Mason

Commissioner

Attachment

Nelson Hydro

Cost of Service Analysis and Rate Design Application