Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-376-22

 

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 December 19, 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.      By Order G-272-22 dated September 29, 2022, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for the
review of the Complaint. The regulatory timetable was subsequently amended by Order G-350-22, dated
December 5, 2022;

D.      By letter dated December 16, 2022, BC Hydro requested an extension to the deadline for filing its response to BCUC Information Request (IR) No. 1 (Extension Request);

E.       In the letter, BC Hydro also requested further amendments to the regulatory timetable, including new dates for the filing of GFN and Intervener IRs to BC Hydro, BC Hydro’s responses to those IRs, and BCUC IRs to GFN, as well as an opportunity for BC Hydro to submit IRs to GFN (Additional Request); and

F.       The BCUC has reviewed BC Hydro’s requests and the reasons provided and considers that approval of BC Hydro’s Extension Request and a written submission process regarding the Additional Request are warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders that the regulatory timetable established by Order G-350-22 is further amended, as set out in Appendix A to this order.

 

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this       19^th      day of December 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