ORDER NUMBER
G-298-23
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
British Columbia Utilities Commission
Reconsideration of Order G-91-23
BEFORE:
M. Jaccard, Commissioner
on November 3, 2023
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On April 21, 2023, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) issued Decision and Order G-91-23 in the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) Fiscal 2023 to 2025 Revenue Requirements proceeding (F2023-25 RRA Decision). On page 29 of the F2023-25 RRA Decision, the BCUC directs BC Hydro to “continue producing both the binary and probability-weighted methods for forecasting industrial loads and to report on the results including a comprehensive load forecast in the next RRA” in the Panel Determination (Directive);
B. The term “comprehensive load forecast” is not defined in the F2023-25 RRA Decision;
C. On October 11, 2023, in oral testimony provided by BC Hydro in the BC Hydro 2021 Integrated Resource Plan proceeding (Oral Testimony), BC Hydro stated that the BCUC ordered BC Hydro to prepare a comprehensive load forecast for its next revenue requirements application (RRA). BC Hydro further stated that a comprehensive load forecast involves re-forecasting loads for all customer segments and rate schedules and requires significant additional effort as compared to a load forecast update;
D. The BCUC considers that BC Hydro's interpretation of "comprehensive load forecast" in the Oral Testimony is not consistent with the use of this phrase in the Directive; and
E. The BCUC determines that a variance to the F2023-25 RRA Decision to clarify the language in the Directive is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 99 of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders that the Directive in the Panel Determination on page 29 of the Decision of Order G-91-23 is varied as follows:
The Panel directs BC Hydro to continue producing both the binary and probability-weighted methods for forecasting industrial loads and to report on the results as a part of its load forecast in the next RRA.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 3rd day of November 2023.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
M. Jaccard
Commissioner