Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-82-24

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Establishment of the Electric Vehicle Rebate Regulatory Account

BEFORE:

B. Lockhart, Commissioner

on March 20, 2024

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On March 7, 2024, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application (Application) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), seeking approval for the establishment of a new Electric Vehicle (EV) Rebate Regulatory Account pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA);

B.      In June 2023, pursuant to an agreement between the Government of British Columbia (BC), BC Hydro and the New Car Dealers Association of British Columbia dated May 17, 2023, BC Hydro undertook the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program (EV Rebate Program) to provide EV rebates to individuals who purchase or lease a new zero-emissions vehicle in BC;

C.      BC Hydro submits that the purpose of the EV Rebate Regulatory Account is to capture: (i) revenues from the sale of specified Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits and (ii) costs incurred by BC Hydro for EV rebates, including the related administration and marketing of the EV Rebate Program;

D.      On May 19, 2023, by Order in Council No. 309, the Government of BC amended the Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Clean Energy) Regulation (GGRR) and introduced section 5.2 related to zero-emission vehicle grants as a prescribed undertaking for public utilities;

E.       BC Hydro submits that, for the purposes of section 18 of the Clean Energy Act (CEA), the EV Rebate Program is a prescribed undertaking pursuant to section 5.2(2) of the GGRR; and

F.       The BCUC has commenced review of the Application and considers that establishing a regulatory timetable is 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.       BC Hydro is directed to provide notice of the Application and this order by Wednesday, March 27, 2024, electronically where possible, to the following:

a.       registered interveners in the BC Hydro Public EV Charging Service Rates proceeding;

b.       registered interveners in the BC Hydro Fiscal 2023 to 2025 Revenue Requirements proceeding; and

c.       registered interveners in the FortisBC Inc.  Electric Vehicle Direct Current Fast Charging Energy-Based Rate proceeding.

3.       BC Hydro is directed to publish the Public Notice attached as Appendix B to this order on its website on or before Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

4.       BC Hydro is directed to share notice of the Application on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook social media platforms, on or before Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Bi-weekly social media reminder posts must also be shared on each platform until the conclusion of the letter of comment period on Thursday, May 9, 2024.

5.       BC Hydro is directed to provide by Thursday, April 4, 2024, written confirmation of compliance with Directives 2 and 3, and confirmation that BC Hydro has shared notice of the Application on its social media platforms and implemented a schedule of bi-weekly reminder posts in accordance with Directive 4. 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this              20^th            day of March 2024.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

B. Lockhart

Commissioner

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Establishment of the Electric Vehicle Rebate Regulatory Account

BC HYDRO ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE REBATE REGULATORY ACCOUNT

On March 7, 2024, BC Hydro filed its Electric Vehicle (EV) Rebate Regulatory Account Application requesting approval to establish an account that would capture the revenues and costs incurred by BC Hydro for EV rebates. This would include the related administration and marketing costs for the CleanBC Go Electric Passenger Vehicle Rebate Program. Please visit the Proceeding webpage on bcuc.com under “Our Work” to learn more.

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

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