Orders

ORDER NUMBER

F-31-21

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

2020 Street Lighting Rate Application

Participant Assistance/Cost Award Application

BEFORE:

W. M. Everett, QC, Panel Chair

C. M. Brewer, Commissioner

A. K. Fung, QC, Commissioner

B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

on November 23, 2021

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On November 12, 2020, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) seeking approval or consent pursuant to sections 58 to 61 and section 63 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) (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) street lights 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 lights; 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.      By Orders G-302-20, G-43-21, and G-119-21, the BCUC established and furthered the written hearing process and regulatory timetable to review the Application. The regulatory timetable included intervener registration, a letter of comment period, two rounds of BCUC and intervener information requests, and submission of final and reply arguments;

C.      Fourteen interveners registered for the proceeding: BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA), Kwadacha Nation and Tsay Keh Dene Nation (together the Zone II Ratepayers Group), District of Lillooet, Corporation of the Village of Ashcroft, Manufactured Home Park Owners Alliance of BC, Mr. Larry Hill, City of North Vancouver, British Columbia Agriculture Council, Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC), British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO), City of Surrey, City of Vernon, Residential Consumer Intervener Group, and City of Kamloops;

D.      On November 1, 2021, by Decision and Order G-312-21, the BCUC issued its final determinations on the Application;

E.       The following participants filed a Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) application with the BCUC with respect to their individual participation in the proceeding:

F.       By letters dated August 26, 2021 and September 10, 2021, BC Hydro provided its comments regarding the PACA applications, stating that it considers each of the applications to be consistent with the PACA Guidelines set out in Order G‑97‑17 (PACA Guidelines); and

G.      The BCUC has reviewed the PACA applications in accordance with the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines and determines that the cost awards should be approved.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of the UCA, the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       Funding is awarded to the following interveners in the listed amounts for their participation in the BC Hydro 2020 Street Light Rate Application proceeding:

2.       BC Hydro is directed to reimburse the above-noted participants for the awarded amounts in a timely manner.

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

BY ORDER

    Original signed by:

W. M. Everett, QC

Commissioner