Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-272-22

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Complaint filed by Gitga’at First Nation regarding Remote Community Electrification Program Fees

 

BEFORE:

C. M. Brewer, Panel Chair

A. K. Fung, KC, Commissioner
T. A. Loski, Commissioner

 

on September 28, 2022

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On April 5, 2022, Gitga’at First Nation (GFN) filed a complaint with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) concerning charges billed by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) (Complaint);

B.      In the Complaint, GFN details that it is a remote community to which BC Hydro extended electrical service under the Province of British Columbia’s Remote Community Electrification (RCE) Program, and that in addition to paying Zone II rates as set out in BC Hydro’s Electric Tariff, GFN has been charged an annual charge of approximately $85,000 in relation to an Electricity Service Agreement with BC Hydro, dated 2014 (Electricity Servicing Charge). GFN submits that the Electricity Servicing Charge violates section 63 of the Utilities Commission Act, as it is a term or condition of service that was not reviewed and approved by the BCUC;

C.      On August 30, 2022, the BCUC directed BC Hydro to file additional documents, including the signed Memorandum of Understanding between Canada, the Government of British Columbia and BC Hydro (Canada MOU), the signed Memorandum of Understanding between GFN and BC Hydro, all correspondence with GFN prior to the filing of the Complaint, and any other documents considered relevant to the Complaint (Additional Information);

D.       BC Hydro submitted the Additional Information on September 13, 2022; and

E.       The BCUC, after reviewing the Complaint and Additional Information, finds that a public hearing to review this matter is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       The Regulatory Timetable for the review of the Complaint 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’s website under Get Involved, by the date established in the Regulatory Timetable and in accordance with the BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure attached to Order G-178-22.

2.       BC Hydro is directed to provide a copy of this order and the public notice, attached as Appendix B  to:
(i) Indigenous Services Canada or such other Federal government department as may be responsible for the administration of the Canada MOU; (ii) the Acting Executive Director, Electricity Policy and Regulatory Branch of the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation; (iii) registered interveners in the
BC Hydro F2023 to F2025 Revenue Requirements Application proceeding; and (iv) Zone II customers, by no later than Friday, October 21, 2022.

3.       BC Hydro is directed to provide to the BCUC, by Friday, October 21, 2022, a list of those who received notice of the Complaint, as directed in Directive 2 of this order.

4.       BC Hydro is directed to post this order and the public notice in a clearly visible location on the homepage of its website, on or before Friday, October 21, 2022.

5.       BC Hydro is directed to publish the public notice attached as Appendix B to this order, on all its current social media platforms, on or before Friday, October 21, 2022.

6.       Letters of comment submitted in the Complaint must be in the Letter of Comment Form available on the BCUC’s website at https://www.bcuc.com/Forms/LetterOfComment, or submitted by email to commission.secretary@bcuc.com.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this         29^th        day of September 2022.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

C. M. Brewer

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

 

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Complaint filed by Gitga’at First Nation regarding Remote Community Electrification Program Fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Complaint filed by Gitga’at First Nation regarding Remote Community Electrification Program Fees

 

On April 5, 2022, Gitga’at First Nation (GFN) filed a complaint with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) concerning an annual charge of approximately $85,000, paid to BC Hydro in relation to its electricity service. GFN submits that the charge violates section 63 of the Utilities Commission Act.

 

For more information about the Complaint, please visit the Proceeding Webpage on bcuc.com under
“Our Work – Proceedings”. To learn more about getting involved, please visit our website at www.bcuc.com/get-involved or contact us at the information below.

 

GET MORE INFORMATION
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority 16th Floor, 333 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver, BC  V6B 5R3   E: bchydroregulatorygroup@bchydro.com            P: 604.623.3726	British Columbia Utilities Commission Suite 410, 900 Howe Street Vancouver, BC Canada  V6Z 2N3   E: Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com   P: 604.660.4700