Orders

 

ORDER NUMBER

G-39-25

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Net Metering Service Rates

 

BEFORE:

M. Jaccard, Panel Chair

T. A. Loski, Commissioner

W. E. Royle, Commissioner

 

on February 21, 2025

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On June 27, 2024, pursuant to sections 58 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed with British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), a 2024 Rate Design Application (RDA Application), which included a proposal for changes to its residential service rates, net metering service rate, non-integrated area rates, and Electric Tariff Terms and Conditions;

B.      By Order G-190-24 dated July 16, 2024, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for the review of the RDA Application, which included, among other things, a deadline for BC Hydro to file an evidentiary update on its net metering service rate proposals (Evidentiary Update) by Friday, December 20, 2024;

C.      On December 6, 2024, BC Hydro requested an extension to file the Evidentiary Update to February 13, 2025. By Order G-331-24 dated December 11, 2024, the BCUC granted BC Hydro’s extension request;

D.      By letter dated February 4, 2025, BC Hydro requested a further extension to March 20, 2025 to file its Evidentiary Update. BC Hydro also requested that the BCUC initiate a separate regulatory process to review the net metering service rate proposals (Net Metering Proceeding) for regulatory efficiency and suggested that the BCUC place onto the evidentiary record of the Net Metering Proceeding, all evidence from the RDA Proceeding that is directly related to the net metering service rate proposals, and provided a list of documents it recommended be transferred;

E.       By letter dated February 7, 2025, the BCUC, among other things, granted BC Hydro’s further extension request and proposed that the BCUC hold a separate proceeding to review the net metering service rate proposals, as it considered BC Hydro’s request to be an appropriate way to review this distinct topic. The letter also invited interveners in the RDA Proceeding to provide, by February 12, 2025, their objections, if any, to the proposal with supporting reasons as well as provide a list of any additional documents from the RDA Proceeding that should be placed onto the evidentiary record of the Net Metering Proceeding;

F.       By letters dated between February 4 and 12, 2025, the interveners the Community Solar Coalition (CSC),
BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA), Charge Solar et al., Residential Consumer Intervener Association (RCIA) and the Zone II Ratepayers Group (Zone II RPG) expressed support for the BCUC’s proposal to hold a separate proceeding to review the net metering proposals. CSC, Charge Solar et al. and Zone II RPG identified additional documents from the RDA Proceeding that they proposed should be placed onto the evidentiary record of the Net Metering Proceeding, while BCSEA and RCIA suggested that all documents from the RDA Proceeding should be transferred;

G.      By Order G-33-25 dated February 19, 2025, the BCUC ordered the net metering service rate proposals would not be reviewed as part of the RDA Proceeding. The BCUC found a separate process to review the net metering service rate proposals was warranted and recommended that the entirety of the RDA Proceeding record form part of the Net Metering Proceeding record; and

H.      The BCUC considers establishing a regulatory timetable for the Net Metering Proceeding is warranted.     

 

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       A public hearing process is established for the Net Metering Proceeding in accordance with the regulatory timetable as set out in Appendix A to this order.

2.       The entirety of the RDA Proceeding record will form part of the Net Metering Proceeding record.

3.       The scope of the Net Metering Proceeding will be limited to BC Hydro’s net metering service rate proposals.

4.       All interveners from the RDA Proceeding, except for Wyse Meter Solutions Inc., are automatically registered as interveners in the Net Metering Proceeding.  

5.       BC Hydro is directed to include in its Evidentiary Update due Thursday, March 20, 2025, a proposed regulatory process and timetable, and a discussion on whether an in-person hearing would be warranted.

6.       Interveners are invited to provide, by Thursday, April 3, 2025, submissions on the regulatory process, including whether an in-person hearing would be warranted.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this      21st      day of February 2025.

 

BY ORDER

 

Electronically signed by Mark Jaccard

 

M. Jaccard

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Net Metering Service Rates