Orders

ORDER NUMBER

F-14-16

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Application for Approval of Debt Management Regulatory Account

Participant Assistance/Cost Awards

BEFORE:

D. M. Morton, Panel Chair/Commissioner

on June 16, 2016

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On December 16, 2015, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) for approval of a Debt Management Regulatory Account and for the Commission’s endorsement of BC Hydro’s debt management strategy;

B.      By Order G-2-16 dated January 8, 2016, the Commission established a regulatory timetable with a workshop and one round of information requests, and sought written submissions on the review process. By letters dated January 20 and 26, 2016, the Commission revised the regulatory timetable;

C.      On March 30, 2016, the Commission issued Order G-42-16 with reasons;

D.      Between April 1 and 12, 2016, the Commission received Participant Assistance/Cost Awards (PACA) applications from the following interveners:

•         BC Sustainable Energy Association and the Sierra Club of BC;

•         British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al.; and

•         Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia;

E.       On April 25, 2016, the Commission issued a letter to BC Hydro requesting comments on the PACA applications, which BC Hydro replied to on May 9, 2016, stating that it reviewed the applications and considers the participation and contributions of CEC to be similar to that of the other interveners, and therefore requests that the cost award to CEC be adjusted; and

F.       The Commission has reviewed the PACA applications and comments from BC Hydro with regard to the criteria and rates set out in the Commission’s PACA Guidelines in Order G-72-07 and concludes that PACA funding should be awarded as applied for.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the British Columbia Utilities Commission approves:

1.       Funding is awarded to the following interveners for their participation in the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority’s (BC Hydro) Application for Approval of Debt Management Regulatory Account:

2.       BC Hydro is directed to reimburse the above interveners for the approved award amount in a timely manner.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this                             day of June 2016.

BY ORDER

D. M. Morton

Commissioner