Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-59-23

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Fiscal 2024 Residential Inclining Block Rate Pricing Principles Application

 

BEFORE:

T. A. Loski, Panel Chair

A. K. Fung, KC, Commissioner

D. M. Morton, Commissioner

 

on March 21, 2023

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On March 8, 2023, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) an application for approval of pricing principles that would apply to the residential service inclining block rate (Residential Service Pricing Principles) under Rate Schedule 1101, 1121 (collectively, RS 1101) for Fiscal 2024 (F2024) (Application or F2024 Residential Service Pricing Principles Application);

B.      On February 13, 2023, as part of a separate, ongoing proceeding to review BC Hydro’s Fiscal 2023 to Fiscal 2025 Revenue Requirements Application (F2023 to F2025 RRA), BC Hydro filed a request for approval, effective April 1, 2023, of interim F2024 rates, specifically a general rate increase of 0.97 percent and a Deferral Account Rate Rider credit of 1.0 percent, resulting in a net bill increase of 2.0 percent, subject to any interim or final BCUC orders related to the BC Hydro F2024 Residential Service Pricing Principles Application;

C.      In the Application, BC Hydro proposes to apply any F2024 general rate increase approved in the BC Hydro F2023 to F2025 RRA proceeding equally to all three components of the RS 1101 charges, which are: the Basic Charge, Step 1 Energy Charge and Step 2 Energy Charge;

D.      BC Hydro requests interim approval of the proposed Residential Service Pricing Principles for F2024 by no later than March 23, 2023, to allow sufficient time to configure its billing systems in advance of April 1, 2023;

E.       BC Hydro proposes a regulatory process for the review of the Application that includes public notification to customers by utilizing BC Hydro’s Connected Newsletter, which is subscribed to by approximately 300,000 Residential customers, and notification to interveners in BC Hydro’s F2023 to F2025 RRA and 2015 Rate Design Application proceedings, as well as postings on BC Hydro’s website and social media platforms for a period of two weeks; and

F.       The BCUC has commenced its review of the Application and determines that approval of the Residential Service Pricing Principles on an interim basis and the establishment of a regulatory timetable for the review of the Application are 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.       The Residential Service Pricing Principles for F2024 as set forth in the Application are approved on an interim basis, effective April 1, 2023. Any differences in rates resulting from the approved interim and permanent Residential Service Pricing Principles for F2024 will be refundable to/recoverable from customers, with interest at BC Hydro’s weighted average cost of debt, in the manner determined by the Panel at the time it renders its final decision on the Application.

3.       BC Hydro is directed to provide notice of the Application and this order by Friday, March 24, 2023, electronically where possible, to the following:

•         All registered interveners in the BC Hydro F2023 to F2025 RRA proceeding;

•         All registered interveners in the BC Hydro 2015 Rate Design Application proceeding;

•         The BC Hydro email distribution list of nearly 500 interested parties as referenced in Directive 3 of Order G-40-22 in the BC Hydro Fiscal 2023 Rate Schedule 1101, 1121 Residential Service Pricing Principles Application proceeding; and

•         The next upcoming publication of the BC Hydro Connected Newsletter (immediately following the above mentioned deadline).

4.       BC Hydro is directed to publish the Public Notice attached as Appendix B to this order on its website and Twitter and Facebook social media platforms, on or before Friday, March 24, 2023. Weekly social media reminder posts, with the Public Notice must be published on each platform until the conclusion of the letter of comment period on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

5.       BC Hydro is directed to provide by Wednesday, April 12, 2023, written confirmation of compliance with Directive 3, and that BC Hydro has published the Public Notice on its website and social media platforms and implemented a schedule of weekly reminder posts in accordance with Directive 4.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this             21^st             day of March 2023.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

T. A. Loski

Commissioner

Attachments

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Fiscal 2024 Residential Inclining Block Rate Pricing Principles Application

 

 

 

 

 

 

BC HYDRO FISCAL 2024 RESIDENTIAL SERVICE PRICING PRINCIPLES APPLICATION

On March 8, 2023, BC Hydro filed an application for approval of pricing principles to determine how general rate changes are applied to the basic charge, Step 1 energy charge, and Step 2 energy charge of its residential service rates, under Rate Schedules 1101 and 1121.

 

BC Hydro is proposing that the general rate changes, currently under the British Columbia Utilities Commission’s (BCUC) review in the BC Hydro Fiscal 2023 to 2025 Revenue Requirements Application proceeding, be applied equally to all components of its residential service rates. BC Hydro’s proposed pricing principles would result in a net bill increase of 2% for all residential customers, effective April 1, 2023.

 

The BCUC is holding an open and transparent proceeding to review BC Hydro’s application and welcomes feedback and participation from the public.

 

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, Canada  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