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ORDER NUMBER G-151-23
IN THE MATTER OF the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority Request for Consent to Waive Charges in Relation to Robson Valley Power Corporation Complaint
BEFORE: B. A. Magnan, Panel Chair E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner
WHEREAS:
on June 7, 2023 ORDER
A. On April 3, 2023, pursuant to Section 63 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), BC Hydro submitted a request for consent from the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) to waive Demand and Minimum charges billed to the Robson Valley Power Corporation (RVPC) for the billing periods from February 16, 2020, to August 15, 2020 (Application);
B. On March 11, 2022, RVPC filed a complaint with the BCUC regarding the change in its allocated Rate Schedule (RS) with BC Hydro as well as associated charges incurred after this change (Complaint);
C. In the Complaint, RVPC stated that the change in its rate schedule from Independent Power Producer (IPP) Station Service RS 1253 to Large General Service RS 1611, which took place when the configuration of its facilities changed to include self-owned Bitcoin mining operations at the time of the RVPC Electricity Purchase Agreement (EPA) Renewal, was unjust and that RVPC had incurred undue charges as a result;
D. On March 14, 2022, BCUC staff initiated the BCUC complaints process and requested BC Hydro to review the Complaint and provide a response;
E. Between May 22, 2022, and December 1, 2022, BC Hydro and the Complainant submitted responses, with BC Hydro stating its intention to seek the BCUC’s consent to waive specific Demand and Minimum charges billed to RVPC between March 15, 2022, and December 1, 2022, and offered an estimated sum thereof;
F. On March 20, 2023, the BCUC issued Staff Questions to BC Hydro, which sought additional information on the dispute regulation procedures followed prior to the Application as well as details of the specific charges for which BC Hydro requested consent to waive;
Final Order
Order G-151-23
G. On April 3, 2023, BC Hydro submitted its response to Staff Questions, noting that the Complainant may not have been aware of the costs being incurred during this period due to BC Hydro’s late billing submission to the customer; and
H. The Panel has reviewed the Application and considers acceptance of BC Hydro’s request to waive Demand and Minimum charges billed to RVPC for the billing periods February 16, 2020, to August 15, 2020, is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 63 of the UCA the BCUC approves BC Hydro’s request to waive Demand charges of and Minimum charges of billed to RVPC for the billing periods February 16, 2020, to August 15, 2020.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 15 th BY ORDER Original signed by: B. A. Magnan Commissionner
Final Order
day of June 2023.