Orders

ORDER NUMBER

F-12-25

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Distribution Extension Policy

Participant Cost Award Application

BEFORE:

M. Jaccard, Panel Chair

T. A. Loski, Commissioner

W. E. Royle, Commissioner

on April 23, 2025

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On June 27, 2024, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed its distribution extension policy application (Application) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), pursuant to sections 58 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act, requesting approval of amendments to its Electric Tariff Terms and Conditions that govern distribution extensions, including to:

•         Update Electric Tariff Section 8.3 in respect of the extension fee calculation, system improvement cost, and BC Hydro’s maximum contribution to an extension, and establish a new Electric Tariff Section 11.5 in respect of BC Hydro’s maximum contribution;

•         Update Electric Tariff Section 8.4 in respect of guarantee requirements and reviews;

•         Update Electric Tariff Section 8.5 in respect of refunds of extensions fees;

•         Remove Electric Tariff Section 8.7 in respect of extensions in Rate Zone IB and Rate Zone II;

•         Update Electric Tariff Section 8.8 in respect of the uneconomic extension fund;

•         Update Electric Tariff Section 11.1 in respect of minimum connection charges and Section 11.2 in respect of metering charges; and

•         Make amendments, which BC Hydro identifies as administrative and housekeeping, to Electric Tariff Sections 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 11, and Rate Schedules 1640, 1641, 1642, and 1643;

B.      The regulatory process for review of the Application included public notice, intervener registration, BCUC and intervener information requests, Panel information requests, and final and reply arguments;

C.      On March 5, 2025, by Order G-59-25 the BCUC, among other things, approved the amendments to
BC Hydro’s Electric Tariff Terms and Conditions and Rate Schedules proposed in the Application and as revised in Errata No. 1 to the Application, effective July 5, 2025, subject to certain revisions;

D.      The following participants filed Participant Cost Award (PCA) applications with the BCUC with respect to their participation in the proceeding:

E.       By letter dated March 31, 2025, BC Hydro provided its comments on the PCA applications, stating that all participants requesting PCA contributed to a better understanding by the BCUC of the issues in the proceeding and that BC Hydro has no objection to cost awards of the requested amounts; and

F.       The BCUC has reviewed the PCA applications in accordance with the criteria and rates set out in the BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure and determines that the PCA applications should be approved.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       Costs are awarded to the following participants in the listed amounts for their participation in the BC Hydro Distribution Extension Policy proceeding:

2.       BC Hydro is directed to reimburse the above-noted participants for the awarded amount in a timely manner.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this        23rd       day of April 2025.

BY ORDER

Electronically signed by Mark Jaccard

M. Jaccard

Commissioner