Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-49-23

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Optional Residential Time-of-Use Rate Application

 

BEFORE:

D. M. Morton, Panel Chair

A. K. Fung, KC, Commissioner

T. A. Loski, Commissioner

 

on March 14, 2023

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On February 27, 2023, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed its Optional Residential Time-of-Use Rate Application (Application) seeking approval of Rate Schedule 2101 - Residential Service - Time-of-Use-Rate (Optional Residential TOU Rate), effective the later of April 1, 2024 or the first day of the fourth calendar month following the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) order approving the rate schedule;

B.      In the Application, and as shown in Appendix B of the Application, BC Hydro proposes that the Optional Residential TOU Rate be as follows:

1.       Available to BC Hydro’s Residential Service Customers on a voluntary, opt-in basis, in BC Hydro’s integrated service area;

2.       Applicable for all electricity consumption under a Residential Service account, including electric vehicle charging; and

3.       An “add-on” rate that applies year-round and every day of the year, such that participating customers are first billed for their total electricity usage during a billing period based on their existing Residential Service rate, and then will receive:

a.       a 5-cent credit for each kWh of electricity consumed during the Overnight period (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.);

b.       a 5-cent additional charge for each kWh of electricity consumed during the On-Peak period (4 p.m. to 9 p.m.); and

c.       no credit or additional charge for each kWh of electricity consumed during the Off-Peak period (9 p.m. to 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.);

C.      BC Hydro proposes a regulatory process for the review of the Application, as set out in section 1.4 of the Application, and notes that nine weeks is required to provide notification to all its residential customers; and

D.      The BCUC has considered the regulatory process proposed by BC Hydro and determines that the establishment of a regulatory timetable for the review of the Application is warranted.

 

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       The regulatory timetable for the review of the Application is established, as set out in Appendix A to this order.

2.       BC Hydro is directed to provide a copy of the Application and this order by Friday, March 17, 2023, electronically where possible, to all registered interveners in the BC Hydro F2023 to F2025 Revenue Requirement Application proceeding, the BC Hydro 2015 Rate Design Application proceeding, and the BC Hydro 2021 Integrated Resource Plan proceeding.

3.       BC Hydro is directed to post the Public Notice in Appendix B to this order on its Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook social media platforms by Friday, March 17, 2023. It must also post weekly reminder notices on each of these platforms until the intervener registration deadline on Friday, May 26, 2023.

4.       BC Hydro is directed to make the Application and this order available on its website at http://www.bchydro.com by Friday, March 17, 2023.

5.       BC Hydro is directed to provide all BC Hydro residential customers with notice of the Application and this order by Friday, May 19, 2023.

6.       BC Hydro is directed to provide confirmation to the BCUC that it has complied with directives 2 to 4 above by Tuesday, March 21, 2023 and that it has complied with directive 5 above by Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this           14^th        day of March 2023.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

D. M. Morton

Commissioner

 

 

Attachments

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Optional Residential Time-of-Use Rate Application

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BC HYDRO’S OPTIONAL RESIDENTIAL TIME-OF-USE RATE APPLICATION

On February 27, 2023, BC Hydro filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) requesting approval of a new optional residential service time-of-use rate (also referred to as the Optional Residential TOU Rate). If approved, the new rate could take effect as early as April 1, 2024. BC Hydro proposes that the Optional Residential TOU Rate be:

•      Available on a voluntary, opt-in basis, to Residential Service Customers in BC Hydro’s integrated service area, for all electricity consumed by a Residential Service account, including electric vehicle charging; and

•      An “add-on” rate that applies everyday year-round, such that participating customers would be first billed for their total electricity usage during a billing period based on their existing Residential Service rate, and then will receive:

i)      a $0.05 credit for each kWh of electricity consumed during the overnight period (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.);

ii)    a $0.05 additional charge for each kWh of electricity consumed during the on-peak period (4 p.m. to 9 p.m.); and

iii)  no credit or additional charge for each kWh of electricity consumed during the off-peak period (9 p.m. to 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE •         Submit a letter of comment •         Register as an interested party •         Request intervener status

IMPORTANT DATES 1.       Friday, May 26, 2023 – Deadline to register as an intervener with the BCUC 2.       Tuesday, June 13, 2023 – Intervener Information Request No. 1 to BC Hydro

For more information about the Application, 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
BC Hydro Regulatory & Rates Group 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