ORDER NUMBER
G-154-18
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority
Application for Approval to Amend the Rate Schedule 1105 Availability Clause
BEFORE:
D. A. Cote, Commissioner
on August 17, 2018
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. By letter dated June 12, 2018, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for approval to amend the availability clause of Rate Schedule (RS) 1105 of its Electric Tariff, also known as the residential E-plus rate, to remove the restriction on replacement of existing space and hot water heating equipment, effective the date of a BCUC order (Application);
B. By Order G-194-17 dated December 19, 2017 the BCUC directed BC Hydro to phase out the residential E-plus rate over 10 years commencing April 1, 2018 (Phase-out Period);
C. BC Hydro states that the amendment proposed in the Application would enable residential E-Plus customers to replace and improve the energy efficiency of their heating system equipment and still qualify for the E-Plus rate during the Phase-out Period;
D. By letter L-16-18 dated June 28, 2018 the BCUC invited comments on the Application from those interveners that filed arguments regarding the residential E-Plus rate in the BC Hydro 2015 Rate Design Application (RDA) proceeding, those parties being E-Plus Homeowners Group (EPHG), Non-Integrated Areas Ratepayers Group (NIARG), British Columbia Sustainable Energy Association and Sierra Club of BC (BCSEA-SCBC) and the Commercial Energy Consumers Association of BC (CEC);
E. The BCUC received comments from BCSEA-SCBC and EPHG, both in support of the Application, and reply comments from BC Hydro; and
F. The BCUC has reviewed the Application and comments received and considers that approval is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:
1. The amendment to the availability clause of RS 1105 of BC Hydro’s Electric Tariff to remove the restriction on replacement of existing space and hot water heating equipment is approved, as filed in the Application and effective the date of this order.
2. BC Hydro is directed to file with the BCUC amended tariff sheets within 15 business days of this order.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 17th day of August 2018.
BY ORDER
Original signed by
D. A. Cote
Commissioner