ORDER NUMBER
G-304-20
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
Catalyst Paper Corporation
Request to Reduce Rate Schedule 1893 Baselines
BEFORE:
B. A. Magnan, Commissioner
on November 30, 2020
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On May 21, 2020, pursuant to sections 58 to 61, 89 and 90 of the Utilities Commission Act and section 15 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, Catalyst Paper Corporation (Catalyst) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) a request to reduce Rate Schedule (RS) 1893 Baselines at Catalyst (Application);
B. In the Application, Catalyst seeks BCUC approval for adjustments to British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) RS 1893 customer High Load Hours (HLH) baseline, Low Load Hours (LLH) baseline and Monthly Reference Demand (Demand) at Crofton and Port Alberni sites for the June to August 2020 billing periods;
C. Catalyst submits that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a reduction in demand for pulp and paper, and as a result, Catalyst has had to curtail production at its facilities resulting in much lower electricity consumption than its HLH and LLH baselines. An interim adjustment to its baselines and Demand would allow it adequate time to realize new market opportunities;
D. By Order G-129-20A dated June 10, 2020, the BCUC approved adjustments to Catalyst’s HLH baseline, LLH baseline and Demand on an interim and refundable basis and established a regulatory timetable for review of the Application;
E. By Order G-152-20 dated June 12, 2020, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable to allow for intervener registration, one round of BCUC information requests (IRs) and further process to be determined;
F. By July 25, 2020, BC Hydro and the British Columbia Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA) registered as interveners;
G. By Order G-160-20 dated June 18, 2020, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable to allow for intervener written submissions on Catalyst’s June 12, 2020 request to amend the regulatory timetable as set out in Appendix A to Order G-152-20;
H. By Order G-207-20 dated July 31, 2020, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable to allow for the submission of intervener evidence, one round of IRs on evidence and further process to be determined;
I. By Order G-228-20 dated September 3, 2020, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable to allow for the submission of Catalyst’s rebuttal evidence, one round of IRs on rebuttal evidence and final arguments;
J. By Order G-240-20 dated September 22, 2020, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable to allow for an extension in the submission of IRs on rebuttal evidence and final arguments;
K. By Order G-249-20 dated October 5, 2020, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable to advance final arguments and Catalyst’s reply as no intervener IRs on rebuttal evidence were filed;
L. On October 27, 2020, as part of its reply argument, Catalyst filed a second extension request (Extension Request) to its original Application, to include baseline adjustments from September 2020 to March 2021;
M. Catalyst requests that the baseline and Demand load tables in the Extension Request be held in confidence as they contain commercially sensitive information; and
N. The BCUC has reviewed the evidence and submissions made to date and considers that partial approval to the Extension Request is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders the following:
1. The HLH baseline, LLH baseline and Demand ajustments, as set out in the Extension Request, are approved on an interim and refundable basis, effective for the lesser of 30 days or until a decision on the matter is made by the BCUC.
2. The BCUC will hold confidential the baseline and Demand load tables in the Extension Request as they contain commercially sensitive information.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 30th day of November 2020.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
B. A. Magnan
Commissioner