ORDER NUMBER
G-197-19
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Inc.
2017 Cost of Service Analysis and Rate Design Application
Compliance Filing to Order G-40-19
BEFORE:
D. A. Cote, Panel Chair
R. I. Mason, Commissioner
D. M. Morton, Commissioner
on August 23, 2019
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On February 25, 2019, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) issued its decision and Order G‑40‑19 in the matter of the FortisBC Inc. (FBC) 2017 Cost of Service Analysis and Rate Design Application (FBC 2017 COSA and RDA Decision);
B. Directive 16 of Order G-40-19 ordered FBC to submit to the BCUC, for review by the FBC 2017 COSA and RDA Decision Panel, a compliance filing containing, among other things, a proposal to phase-in the rate impact of the approved changes to the anti-pancaking language contained in the Transmission Services Rate Schedule (RS) 101 over three years;
C. On April 26, 2019, FBC filed the compliance filing to Order G-40-19 (Compliance Filing). In the Compliance Filing, FBC proposed to phase-in the application of the RS 101 charges to existing customers beginning on January 1, 2020, with an initial rate that would limit the annual bill impact to less than 10 percent. Based on this proposal, 70 percent of the rate would be applied on January 1, 2020, followed by 80 percent commencing on January 1, 2021 and 90 percent commencing on January 1, 2022 (Phase-in Proposal);
D. By letter dated May 30, 2019, the Panel sought submissions from impacted industrial customers on the Phase-in Proposal;
E. On July 24, 2019, the Industrial Customers Group (ICG) submitted a letter to the BCUC stating that it does not object to the Phase-in Proposal;
F. FBC responded on August 7, 2019, stating that given ICG does not object to the Phase-in Proposal, the BCUC should grant final approval of RS 101 and 102; and
G. The Panel has considered the Phase-in Proposal and the comments from ICG and FBC and finds that approval of the Phase-in Proposal is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE the BCUC approves FBC’s Phase-in Proposal and grants final approval of Rate Schedules 101 and 102, as filed in the updated FBC Electric Tariff pages provided in Appendix A to the Compliance Filing.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 23rd day of August 2019.
BY ORDER
Original Signed By:
D. A. Cote
Commissioner