Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-17-24

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

FortisBC Inc.

Electric Vehicle Direct Current Fast Charging Energy-Based Rate

BEFORE:

M. Jaccard, Panel Chair

W. E. Royle, Commissioner

on January 19, 2024

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On December 22, 2023, FortisBC Inc. (FBC) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for approval of its Electric Vehicle (EV) Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) Energy-Based Rate Application (Application) pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act;

B.      By Order G-341-21 dated November 24, 2021, the BCUC directed FBC to file a detailed assessment of its EV DCFC service, which was filed by FBC on December 29, 2022; 

C.      By Order G-350-21 dated November 30, 2021, the BCUC approved FBC’s Rate Schedule (RS) 96 on a permanent basis, which included time-based charging rates at FBC-owned EV DCFC stations of $0.26 per minute for 50 kW stations and $0.54 per minute for 100 kW stations;

D.      On December 18, 2023, FBC applied to Measurement Canada’s temporary dispensation program, which, if granted, will permit the use of energy-based meters at Level 3 chargers without verification and sealing, subject to the terms and conditions of the temporary dispensation program;

E.       In the Application, FBC seeks the following approvals from the BCUC:

                                 i.            Approval to amend RS 96 to implement an energy-based EV charging rate of $0.42 per kWh for service at FBC-owned DCFC 50 kW and 100 kW stations, which will replace the existing time-based rates;

                               ii.            Approval that the energy-based EV charging rate for RS 96 not be subject to general rate increases, unless otherwise directed by the BCUC;

                             iii.            Approval of an Idling Charge of $0.40 per minute that begins 5 minutes after the end of the charging session for service at FBC-owned DCFC 50 kW and 100 kW stations; and

                             iv.            Approval to establish a new rate base RS 96 Energy-Based Rate Application Cost deferral account to record the costs associated with regulatory review of the Application, with the amortization period of the deferral account to be determined in a future rate-setting proceeding; and

F.       The BCUC has commenced review of the Application and finds that the following determinations are warranted.    

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

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

2.       The scope of Information Request No. 1 is limited to the specific topics outlined in Appendix C to this order.

3.       On or before Friday, January 26, 2024, FBC must:

a.             provide a copy of the Application and this order, electronically where possible, to the registered interveners in the FBC 2021 Rate Design and Rates for Electric Vehicle Direct Current Fast Charging Service and the FBC 2024 Annual Review of Rates proceedings; and

b.             provide notice of the Application and this order, or post a copy of the Public Notice attached as Appendix B to this order, on the appropriate social media platforms and on its website. Weekly reminder posts must be published on each platform until the conclusion of the intervener registration period on Friday, February 9, 2024.

4.       FBC is directed to provide confirmation of compliance with Directive 3 in accordance with the regulatory timetable, including a list of the social media platforms on which the Public Notice was posted as well as a list of all parties notified.

5.       In accordance with BCUC Rules of Practice and Procedure, parties who wish to actively participate in the proceeding must complete a Request to Intervene Form, available on the Get Involved in a Proceeding section of the BCUC's website at https://www.bcuc.com/GetInvolved/GetInvolvedProceeding , by Friday, February 9, 2024. Any party wishing to provide comments is invited to submit a Letter of Comment by the date established in the regulatory timetable. Letters of comment must be submitted in the Letter of Comment Form available on the BCUC’s website at https://www.bcuc.com/Forms/LetterOfComment.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this            19^th           day of January 2024.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

M. Jaccard

Commissioner

FortisBC Inc.

Electric Vehicle Direct Current Fast Charging Energy-Based Rate

FORTISBC INC. 2024 ELECTRIC VEHICLE ENERGY-BASED RATE APPLICATION

On December 22, 2023, FortisBC Inc. (FBC) filed an application requesting BCUC approval to replace its existing time-based rates for electric vehicle charging with an energy-based rate of $0.42 per kilowatt hour (kWh) for service at its direct current fast charging 50 kW and 100 kW stations. The BCUC has started a proceeding to review FBC’s application.

To participate in the proceeding, visit www.bcuc.com/get-involved.

For more information about the application, please visit the Proceeding webpage on bcuc.com under “Our Work – Proceedings”.

Subscribe to this proceeding on bcuc.com under “Get Involved” to receive email notifications when public documents are added to the proceeding.

FortisBC Inc.

Electric Vehicle Direct Current Fast Charging Energy-Based Rate

The BCUC approved FortisBC Inc.’s (FBC’s) Rate Schedule (RS) 96 - Electric Vehicle Charging for electric vehicle (EV) charging service at FBC-owned direct current fast charging stations at $0.26/minute at 50 kW stations and $0.54/minute at 100 kW stations, on a permanent basis, by Order G-350-21. In its Decision and Order G-341-21 dated November 24, 2021, the BCUC agreed that energy-based rates for EV fast charging are desirable. The BCUC also directed FBC, among other matters, to apply for a dispensation from the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act to have the option to charge energy-based rates.

The Panel notes that the FBC 2021 Rate Design and Rates for Electric Vehicle Direct Current Fast Charging Service proceeding that established FBC’s existing rate and rate design for EV fast charging had an extensive process and evidentiary record. In response to the BCUC’s Decision and Order G-341-21 in that proceeding, FBC is seeking in this Application to switch time-based rates to energy-based rates. Accordingly, the scope of Information Request No. 1 is limited to the specific topics outlined below:

1.       The costs, utilization, and other assumptions that support FBC’s energy-based rate proposal.

2.       Rate design pertaining to various public EV charger power levels.

3.       Timing, implementation, and customer impact transitioning from time-based rates to energy-based rates.

4.       Rate and rate design of idling charge.

5.       Establishment of the RS 96 Energy-Based Rate Application Cost deferral account and items to be recorded in the account.