ORDER NUMBER
G-152-17
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
Application Requesting Consent under section 63 of the Utilities Commission Act to
Waive Certain Charges for Customers under Evacuation Orders and Evacuation Alerts
BEFORE:
W. M. Everett, Q.C. Commissioner
B. A. Magnan, Commissioner
R. I. Mason, Commissioner
R. D. Revel, Commissioner
on October 5, 2017
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On September 14, 2017, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) under section 63 of the Utilities Commission Act for consent to waive certain charges for residential, general, irrigation, and street lighting service customers in BC Hydro’s service territory subject to evacuation orders and alerts for the period starting May 1, 2017 and ending December 31, 2017 (2017 British Columbia Wildfire Season) (Application);
B. BC Hydro, among other things, is proposing to provide bill credits to residential, general service, irrigation, and street lighting customer accounts subject to evacuation orders (Evacuee Customers) for the Basic Charges, Energy Charges, and Street Lighting Rates as set out in the specific Rate Schedule under which Evacuee Customers are receiving service that would otherwise have applied in 2017 (Applicable Charges) during the period Evacuee Customers were under an evacuation order (Applicable Period). The revenue reduction will be to the account of the shareholder; and
C. The Commission has reviewed the Application and considers that consent is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 63 of the Utilities Commission Act:
1. The Commission hereby consents to BC Hydro waiving Applicable Charges to Evacuee Customers and certain other customers by:
(a) Providing a credit for the Applicable Charges that would otherwise have applied during the Applicable Period to Evacuee Customers;
(b) Providing a credit to customers whose dwelling was destroyed by a wildfire during the 2017 British Columbia Wildfire Season for all outstanding charges for service for the period immediately after the last billing period before the destruction;
(c) Providing a credit for the Service Connection Charge as set out in Section 3.14 of BC Hydro’s Electric Tariff for residential customers constructing a new dwelling if their prior dwelling was destroyed by wildfire during the 2017 British Columbia Wildfire Season and if the connection charge is not recoverable as part of their insurance; and
(d) Providing a credit to customers under an evacuation alert for the applicable late payment charge set out in Section 6.3 of BC Hydro’s Electric Tariff that would have applied between the date of the evacuation alert and September 15, 2017. Late payment charges will not apply to customers under an evacuation alert with an established payment plan.
2. The revenue reduction resulting from BC Hydro’s waiver of Applicable Charges to Evacuee Customers and certain other customers will be for the account of the shareholder.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this day of October 2017.
BY ORDER
R. I. Mason
Commissioner