Orders

 

ORDER NUMBER

G-70-19

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

Nelson Hydro

2019 Rural Rate Application

 

BEFORE:

R. I. Mason, Panel Chair

A. K. Fung, QC, Commissioner

T. A. Loski, Commissioner

 

on March 26, 2019

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On March 8, 2019, Nelson Hydro filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for approval of a 2.94 percent general rate increase to all Rural customer classes, effective April, 1 2019 (Application);

B.      Nelson Hydro is owned and operated by the City of Nelson and is exempt from regulation under the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) to the extent it is serving customers within its municipal boundaries. Accordingly, the BCUC’s review of the Application pertains solely to Nelson Hydro’s non-municipal, or rural, ratepayers;

C.      By Order G-60-19, the BCUC approved Nelson Hydro’s requested 2.94 percent rate increase that applies to all Rural customer classes on an interim and refundable basis, effective April 1, 2019; and

D.      The BCUC has commenced review of the Application and considers that establishing a regulatory timetable is warranted.

 

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       The regulatory timetable for the review of the Application is established, as set out in Appendix A to this order.

2.       Nelson Hydro is directed to submit supplementary information as follows:

a.      Provide the working spreadsheets of the operating budget as shown in Appendix B of the Application. Add a column that restates the rural and utility operating budgets at the current rate level, excluding the impact of the proposed 2.94 percent rate increase.

b.     Provide the revenue forecast based on current rates by each customer class in a breakdown similar to the customer mix table shown on page 2 of the Application. Provide and explain Nelson Hydro’s load forecast methodology, variables considered, analysis and any material changes from past practice.

3.       Nelson Hydro is directed, as soon as reasonably possible, to:

a.      Provide notice of the Application and this order to all non-municipal ratepayers and to all registered interveners and interested parties who participated in the 2017 and 2018 Nelson Hydro rate applications.

b.     Post a copy of this order on the City of Nelson website.

c.      Publish the Public Notice attached as Appendix B to this order, in display-ad format, in the appropriate local news publications to provide adequate notice to the public.

4.       Interveners who wish to participate in the regulatory proceeding are to register with the BCUC by completing the Request to Intervene form, available on the BCUC’s website, by the date established in the regulatory timetable attached as Appendix A to this order. Those requesting intervener status are to specifically state the nature of their interest in the Application, identify generally the issues that they intend to pursue and the extent of their anticipated involvement in the proceeding.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this                 26^th              day of March 2019.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original Signed by:

 

R. I. Mason

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

 

 

Nelson Hydro

2019 Rural Rate Application

 

 

 

 

On March 8, 2019, Nelson Hydro filed its application requesting approval to increase the electrical rates by 2.94 percent, effective April 1, 2019. While the requested rate increase will be applied uniformly to all ratepayers receiving service both inside and outside the City of Nelson’s municipal boundaries, the BCUC’s review of the Application pertains solely to Nelson Hydro’s non-municipal, or rural, ratepayers.

 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE There are a number of ways to participate in a matter before the BCUC: •         Submit a letter of comment •         Register as an interested party •         Request intervener status   For more information, or to find the forms for any of the options above, please visit our website or contact us at the information below.   All submissions received, including letters of comment, are placed on the public record, posted on the BCUC’s website and provided to the Panel and all participants in the proceeding.

NEXT STEPS Intervener registration Persons who are directly or sufficiently affected by the BCUC’s decision or have relevant information or expertise and wish to actively participate in the proceeding can request intervener status by submitting a completed Request to Intervene form by Tuesday, April 23, 2019. http://www.bcuc.com/forms/request-to-intervene.aspx

 

GET MORE INFORMATION
All documents filed on the public record are available on the “Current Proceedings” page of the BCUC’s website at www.bcuc.com.   If you would like to review the material in hard copy, or if you have any other inquiries, please contact Patrick Wruck, Commission Secretary, at the following contact information.	British Columbia Utilities Commission Suite 410, 900 Howe Street Vancouver, BC Canada  V6Z 2N3   E: Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com   P: 604.660.4700