ORDER NUMBER

G-105-25

 

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 April 23, 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 several rates, including the net metering service rate;

B.      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 proceeding to review the RDA (RDA Proceeding). The BCUC found a separate process to review the net metering service rate proposals was warranted;

C.      By Order G-39-25 dated February 21, 2025, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for the proceeding regarding the review of the net metering service rate proposals (Net Metering Proceeding), which included intervener submissions on the regulatory process for the Net Metering Proceeding and BC Hydro reply to intervener submissions regarding process. The BCUC also ordered that all interveners from the RDA Proceeding, except for Wyse Meter Solutions Inc., were automatically registered as interveners in the Net Metering Proceeding and that the entirety of the RDA Proceeding record would form part of the Net Metering Proceeding record;

D.      On March 20, 2025, BC Hydro filed a Net Metering Evidentiary Update (Application Update), including a proposed regulatory process and timetable. In its Application Update, BC Hydro seeks BCUC approval of the following:

                     i.            To close Rate Schedule 1289 (RS 1289), Net Metering Service Rate, to new customers, effective March 31, 2026;

                   ii.            To establish a new Rate Schedule 2289 – Self-Generation Service Rate (RS 2289), effective April 1, 2026;

                 iii.            A transition period for existing RS 1289 customers to RS 2289, as follows:

a.       Customers in RS 1289 who did not receive BC Hydro’s Solar Rebate to stay in RS 1289 for a period of 20 years since the date of the customer interconnection approval;

b.       Customers in RS 1289 who received BC Hydro’s Solar Rebate to transition to RS 2289 on April 1, 2026;

                 iv.            To establish a new Rate Schedule 2290 – Community Generation Service Rate (RS 2290), effective April 1, 2026, to allow multiple customers to share the benefits of a single shared generating facility;

                   v.            A modified definition of “Benefitting Customer” in the Community Generation Service Rate to allow any customer, anywhere in British Columbia, to be a benefitting customer of Generating Facilities that are owned by First Nations; and

                 vi.            An energy price for net generation under the Self-Generation Service Rate (RS 2289) and the Community Generation Service Rate (RS 2290); 

E.       By April 3, 2025, the following interveners filed submissions on the regulatory process: EcoSmart Foundation Inc., Movement of United Professionals, BC Sustainable Energy Association, BC Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al., Commercial Energy Consumers Association of BC, Community Solar Coalition, Residential Consumer Intervener Association, Zone II Ratepayers Group, CB Powerline Ltd., and Clean Energy Association of British Columbia;

F.       On April 10, 2025, BC Hydro submitted its reply to intervener submissions on the regulatory process; and

G.      The BCUC considers that further regulatory process is warranted.   

 

NOW THEREFORE for the reasons outlined in the decision accompanying this order, the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       A further regulatory timetable is established as set out in Appendix A to this order.

2.       Interveners that intend to file intervener evidence must file a notice of intent to file evidence by Thursday, May 15, 2025, including the information set out in section 3 of the Decision.

 

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

 

BY ORDER

 

Electronically signed by Mark Jaccard

 

M. Jaccard

Commissioner

 

 

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Net Metering Service Rates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Net Metering Service Rates

 

1.0              Background

On June 27, 2024, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), a 2024 Rate Design Application (RDA Application), which included a proposal for changes to several rates, including the net metering service rate. In the RDA Application, BC Hydro indicated it would file an evidentiary update regarding the price for excess energy generation from Self Generation and Community Generation Service Rate customers and the determination of a transition period for existing customers to remain on Rate Schedule 1289 before being migrated to the Self Generation Service Rate.[1] Therefore, the matters subject to the evidentiary update were excluded from the scope of the Information Request No. 1 in the RDA proceeding.[2]

On February 19, 2025, the BCUC ordered the net metering service rate proposals would not be reviewed as part of the RDA proceeding and found that a separate process to review the net metering service rate proposals was warranted.[3]

On February 21, 2025, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for the Net Metering Service Rates proceeding (Net Metering Proceeding), which included intervener submissions on the regulatory process for the Net Metering Proceeding and BC Hydro reply to intervener submissions regarding process. The BCUC also ordered that all interveners from the RDA proceeding, except for Wyse Meter Solutions Inc., were automatically registered as interveners in the Net Metering Proceeding and that the entirety of the RDA Proceeding record would form part of the Net Metering Proceeding record[4]

On March 20, 2025, BC Hydro filed the Net Metering Evidentiary Update (Application Update). The Application Update seeks approval of an energy price for net generation under the Self Generation Service Rate (RS 2289) and the Community Generation Service Rate (RS 2290), a transition period for  existing Net Metering Service Rate (RS 1289) customers and a modified definition of “Benefitting Customer” in the Community Generation Service Rate.[5]

As part of its Application Update, BC Hydro also proposed a regulatory process and timetable, as directed by Order G-39-25. By April 3, 2025, ten interveners made submissions regarding the regulatory process and BC Hydro replied to these submissions on April 10, 2025. 

2.0              Interveners and Scope of Participation

The Panel notes that there are commonalities among the issues that certain interveners indicated they intend to address. Therefore, pursuant to Rules 10.02 and 10.03 of the BCUC Rules of Practice and Procedure (Rules),[6] the Panel requests that interveners with similar interests coordinate with each other to promote regulatory efficiency and avoid duplication of evidence for this proceeding. 

The Panel notes further that, in the RDA proceeding, the BCUC required certain interveners to coordinate and/or limit their participation. Given that these interveners, except for Wyse Meter Solutions Inc., have been automatically registered as interveners in the Net Metering Proceeding, the Panel considers it appropriate for these requirements to continue to apply in the Net Metering Proceeding. Therefore, the Panel requires the following parties to coordinate their participation and/or limit their participation in this proceeding as set out below, within the scope for the Net Metering Proceeding that has already been established in Order G-39-25:

•         The City of Vancouver, Metro Vancouver Regional District, District of North Vancouver, and the City of Richmond are to participate as one intervener group;

•         Charge Solar, Riverside Energy Systems, High Tide Energy Inc., and Shift Energy Group Inc. are to participate as one intervener group; 

•         Zone II Ratepayers Group (Zone II RPG) and Gitga'at First Nation are to participate as one intervener group;

•         Lulu Island Energy Company Ltd.’s participation is limited to issues which directly affect its business interests; and

•         Commercial Energy Consumers Association of BC’s (the CEC) participation is limited to issues which directly affect commercial customers.

The Panel also requires British Columbia Old Age Pensioners' Organization, et al. (BCOAPO) and Residential Consumer Intervenor Association (RCIA) to participate as one intervener group, as both organizations represent the interests of residential ratepayers.

The Panel directs parties that have been required to participate as one intervener group to make all written and oral submissions for that group jointly (for example, a joint set of information requests (IRs)). 

The Panel notes Metro Vancouver Regional District, District of North Vancouver, the City of Richmond, High Tide Energy Inc., and Lulu Island Energy Company Ltd. state in their intervener request forms that they intend to request a Participant Cost Award (PCA). Rule 33.02 states that “municipalities and associations of municipalities” and “participants that represent solely their own business interests” are not eligible for a cost award in a proceeding.

To promote regulatory efficiency, the Panel limits the scope of Intervener IR No. 1 to BC Hydro to the energy price, cost-shifting and BC Hydro’s proposed amendments to its Electric Tariff Terms and Conditions respecting net metering services, i.e. Rate Schedules 1289, 2289 and 2290. The topics of the levels of solar or battery rebates and uptake of the net metering rate schedules are out of scope for Intervener IR No. 1 to BC Hydro.

The Panel notes that the deadline for Intervener IR No. 1 to BC Hydro is two weeks after the date for BCUC IR No. 1 to BC Hydro. The Panel accordingly expects that this period of time will allow interveners to avoid the submission of IRs that are duplicative of the BCUC’s IRs, consistent with Rule 12.04.   

3.0              Intervener Evidence

In Interveners’ submissions on the regulatory process, the Clean Energy Association of BC (CEBC) indicates that it may wish to submit intervener evidence and the Community Solar Coalition (CSC) states the BCUC should invite expert testimony and encourage expert participation.[7] BC Hydro states it does not object to Interveners’ opportunity to submit intervener evidence provided that BC Hydro has the opportunity to submit IRs on that evidence, file rebuttal evidence, and cross-examine witnesses on that evidence, should an oral hearing be scheduled.[8]

 

Interveners that intend to file intervener evidence must file a notice of intent to file evidence by Thursday May 15, 2025, including the following details regarding the evidence they intend to file:

•         Summary of the topic to be addressed by the evidence;

•         Explanation of the relevance of the evidence to the Net Metering Proceeding and how it will assist the Panel in making its determination; and

•         Details regarding who would be preparing the evidence; their credentials; the estimated cost; and the anticipated length of the evidence.

Based on the information provided, the Panel retains discretion to determine whether intervener evidence should be admitted, or to make direction regarding the scope of the evidence.

4.0              Oral Hearing

The BCUC directed BC Hydro and invited interveners to discuss whether an in-person hearing would be warranted for the Net Metering Proceeding.

 

BC Hydro states that in the past, for proceedings of similar characteristics, the BCUC was able to reach a decision on the basis of written evidence alone. However, BC Hydro submits that the determination of whether an oral hearing is necessary could take place at a procedural conference after the first round of information requests to BC Hydro and on intervener evidence, as this information could inform the BCUC’s determination on the need for, and scope of, an oral hearing.[9]

 

CSC and CEBC submit that an oral hearing is necessary. CSC considers that an oral hearing ensures procedural fairness and finds written submissions are insufficient to test conflicting evidence or examine assumptions. CEBC submits that an oral hearing is more appropriate to address complex and interconnected matters.[10]

 

The EcoSmart Foundation Inc. (EcoSmart), BCSEA and RCIA submit that an oral hearing is not necessary.[11] The Movement of United Professionals (MoveUp), BCOAPO and Zone II RPG generally support BC Hydro’s perspective or waiting until the first round of information requests to BC Hydro prior to making a determination on whether an oral hearing is needed.[12] The CEC proposes a written process with two rounds of intervener information requests (IRs) and allowance for Panel IRs. The CEC states that it is not opposed to an in-person hearing set up either at the beginning of the proceeding or at a later point.[13]

 

BCSEA requested that the BCUC consider remote participation in the event of an oral hearing in the interest of reducing costs.[14]

 

The timetable in Appendix A provides for an oral hearing, and oral arguments. The hearings are intended to provide regulatory efficiency. The Panel will allow for both in-person and remote participation. Further information regarding the scope, timing, and logistics for the oral hearing and argument will be issued closer to the time.

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Electronically signed by Mark Jaccard

_________________________________

M. Jaccard

Panel Chair/Commissioner

 

 

Electronically signed by Tom Loski

_________________________________

T. A. Loski

Commissioner

 

 

Electronically signed by Wendy Royle

_________________________________

W. E. Royle

Commissioner