ORDER NUMBER
F-41-23
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
Compliance with Directives 20 and 87 from the Fiscal 2023 to Fiscal 2025 Revenue Requirement Application Decision and Order G-91-23
Participant Cost Award Application
BEFORE:
A. K. Fung, KC, Commissioner
on November 20, 2023
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On July 19, 2023, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) submitted a compliance filing (Compliance Filing) to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) related to its Fiscal 2023 to Fiscal 2025 Revenue Requirements Application (RRA), in accordance with various directives, including Directives 20 and 87 of Decision and Order G-91-23;
B. In response to Directive 20 of Decision and Order G-91-23, BC Hydro provided in Section 3 of the Compliance Filing two options on how best to implement Residential Consumer Intervener Association’s (RCIA) recommendations. In response to Directive 87 of Decision and Order G-91-23, BC Hydro provided in Section 5 of the Compliance Filing, the information directed and a request for an order that the BCUC will continue to hold the confidentially filed materials in the BC Hydro Fiscal 2023 to Fiscal 2025 RRA proceeding as confidential on an ongoing basis, until otherwise determined by the BCUC;
C. Subsequent to BC Hydro’s responses to BCUC Staff Questions No. 1 filed on August 9, 2023 by letter dated August 30, 2023, the BCUC invited both RCIA to provide a submission to the BCUC regarding BC Hydro’s response to Directive 20 of Decision and Order G-91-23 and BC Hydro to provide a reply submission;
D. RCIA’s submission and BC Hydro’s reply submission were filed on September 13, 2023 and September 27, 2023, respectively;
E. On October 29, 2023, RCIA filed a Participant Cost Award (PCA) application with the BCUC with respect to its participation in the proceeding requesting $6,604.50 in funding;
F. By letter dated November 3, 2023, BC Hydro provided its comments on the PCA application, stating that it believes RCIA is eligible for a cost award and has no objection to it receiving the cost award requested; and
G. The BCUC has reviewed the PCA application in accordance with the criteria and rates set out in the Rules of Practice and Procedure for Participant Cost Awards, attached to BCUC Order G-178-22 dated June 30, 2022, and amended by Order G-72-23 dated April 3, 2023, and concludes that the cost award should be approved.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders as follows:
1. PCA funding of $6,604.50 is awarded to RCIA for its participation in the proceeding.
2. BC Hydro is directed to reimburse RCIA for the above noted PCA funding in a timely manner.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 20th day of November 2023.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
A. K. Fung, KC
Commissioner