Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

The Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473

and

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Application to Amend Tariff Supplement No. 74 -
Customer Baseline Load Determination Guidelines and CBL Adjustment Tariff Practices

BEFORE:                 L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner

                                N.E. MacMurchy, Commissioner                                       December 1, 2011

                                R.D. Revel, Commissioner

O R D E R

WHEREAS:

A.    On August 19, 2011, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed its Application to Amend Tariff Supplement No. 74 – Customer Baseline Load (CBL) Determination Guidelines (Application);

B.     On September 22, 2011, the Commission issued Letter L-79-11 inviting BC Hydro Transmission Service Rate (TSR) Customers to comment on the proposed amendments by October 12, 2011 and inviting BC Hydro to respond to any comments by October 26, 2011;

C.     By October 12, 2011, the Commission received comment from seven TSR customers expressing support for the amendments.  The Commission also received comment from one TSR customer, Catalyst Paper Corporation, that demand-side management (DSM) persistence and how it applies to customer-funded DSM projects remains an issue.  The Commission also received comment from the Association of Major Power Customers of British Columbia (AMPC) that DSM persistence and treatment of plant turndowns and returns to normal activity not associated with full or partial equipment shutdowns remain as issues.  AMPC states it supports a hearing limited to these two issues;

D.    On October 26, 2011 BC Hydro provided its response and one further TSR customer letter of support for the amendments.  BC Hydro suggested further process is needed and proposed a workshop to present and discuss the two issues;

E.     On November 2, 2011 AMPC filed a letter in which it opposed the workshop.  AMPC proposed information requests, intervener evidence, and an oral hearing on the two issues; and

F.     The Commission has considered the Application, and the customer and BC Hydro responses.  The Commission has determined that a proceeding is required to review the issues raised by AMPC.

NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:

1.       BC Hydro is directed to provide a copy of this Order, the Application, and AMPC’s October 12, 2011 letter to all Transmission Service Customers by Tuesday, December 6, 2011, with attached information on how those customers could intervene in this process if they so choose.

2.       The scope of the proceeding is limited to the two issues identified by AMPC: the Energy Savings Persistence Amendment described at pages 5 - 6 of the Application; and the Treatment of Plant Turndowns and Returns to Normal Activity not Associated with Full or Partial Equipment Shutdowns described at pages 2-3 of AMPC’s October 12, 2011 letter.

3.       The following Regulatory Timetable is established:

REGULATORY TIMETABLE

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this      First       day of December 2011.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                            Original signed by:

L.F. Kelsey

Commissioner