Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-300-24

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

Nelson Hydro

2025 Revenue Requirements Application

BEFORE:

E. B. Lockhart, Panel Chair

E. A. Brown, Commissioner

W. E. Royle, Commissioner

on November 15, 2024

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On October 31, 2024, Nelson Hydro filed an application (Application) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) seeking approval of a general annual rate increase of 7.54 percent for the Rural service area subject to adjustments and to any directives or determinations made in the BCUC’s Generic Cost of Capital Stage 2 proceeding, pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA);

B.      Nelson Hydro is owned and operated by the City of Nelson and is excluded from regulation under the UCA to the extent it is serving customers within its municipal boundaries. Accordingly, the BCUC’s review of the Application pertains solely to Nelson Hydro’s non-municipal, or Rural, ratepayers;

C.      In the Application, Nelson Hydro requests that the 7.54 percent general annual rate increase for the Rural service area be approved on an interim basis, effective January 1, 2025;

D.      As directed in Decision and Order G-196-22, Nelson Hydro’s proposed percentage rate increase for the Rural service area is based on the utility’s 2025 budget figures and applying the modified Cost of Service Analysis; and

E.       The BCUC has commenced its review of the Application and determines that approval of rates on an interim basis and the establishment of a regulatory timetable are warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       Nelson Hydro’s requested rate increase of 7.54 percent applicable to all Rural customer classes is approved on an interim, refundable or recoverable basis, effective January 1, 2025, pursuant to sections 59 to 61 and 89 of the UCA. The tariff pages filed as Appendix 2-1 are accepted as filed on an interim basis.

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

3.       Nelson Hydro must provide a copy of the Application and this order on or before Monday, December 2, 2024, electronically where possible, to the registered interveners in the following proceedings:

                     i.            Nelson Hydro 2023 Revenue Requirements Application; and

                   ii.            Nelson Hydro COSA and Rate Design Application.

4.       Nelson Hydro is directed to provide notice of the Application, including the Public Notice attached as Appendix B to this order, on its website and social media platforms on or before Monday, December 2, 2024.

5.       Nelson Hydro must provide confirmation of compliance with Directives 3 and 4 by Monday, December 9, 2024, including a list of the social media platforms on which the Public Notice was posted and a list of parties notified pursuant to Directive 3.

6.       Nelson Hydro is directed to post the Public Notice on its social media platforms, on a monthly basis during the first week of each month, to remind the public of the letters of comment period until the deadline specified in the regulatory timetable.

7.       Nelson Hydro must provide confirmation of compliance with Directive 6 by the date specified in the regulatory timetable.

8.       In accordance with BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, any party wishing to comment on the Application is invited to submit a Letter of Comment by the date established in the regulatory timetable. Letters of comment must be 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          15^th           day of November 2024.

BY ORDER

Electronically signed by Blair Lockhart

E. B. Lockhart

Commissioner

Attachment

Nelson Hydro

2025 Revenue Requirements Application

NELSON HYDRO 2025 RATES APPLICATION

On October 31, 2024, Nelson Hydro filed a revenue requirements (rates) application requesting approval to increase electricity rates by 7.54 percent for its rural service area, effective January 1, 2025 (Application). The BCUC has started a proceeding to review the Application.

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 or contact us at the information below.