Orders

 

ORDER NUMBER

G-347-20

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

Nelson Hydro

2021 General Rate Increase Application

 

BEFORE:

R. I. Mason, Panel Chair

A. K. Fung, QC, Commissioner

T. A. Loski, Commissioner

 

on December 22, 2020

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On November 30, 2020, Nelson Hydro filed an application (Application) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for approval of a general annual rate increase of 2.3 percent for the Rural service area for the calendar year, pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act. Nelson Hydro proposes the general annual rate increase to become effective on April 1, 2021, which results in a compounded rate increase of 3.32 percent;  

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.      In the Application, Nelson Hydro submits that the proposed percentage rate increase is based on forecast costs for the utility as a whole and that no rate differential between the Urban and Rural service areas is being sought as part of this Application; 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.       A public hearing for the review of the Application is established, as set out in the regulatory timetable attached as Appendix A to this order.

2.       Nelson Hydro is directed to, by January 19, 2021:

a.       Provide notice of the Application and this order to all non-municipal ratepayers and to all registered interveners who participated in the Nelson Hydro 2019 Rural Rate Application;

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

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.

3.       Any party wishing to provide comments is invited to submit a letter of comment by Thursday, March 4, 2021. Letters of comment must be in the Letter of Comment Form available on the BCUC’s website at https://www.bcuc.com/forms/letter-of-comment.aspx.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this          22^nd             day of December 2020.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

R. I. Mason

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

 

 

Nelson Hydro

2021 General Rate Increase Application

 

 

 

 

 

 

NELSON HYDRO 2021 GENERAL RATE INCREASE APPLICATION

On November 30, 2020, Nelson Hydro filed its application requesting approval to increase the electrical rates by 3.32 percent, effective April 1, 2021. 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.

 

Information regarding the Nelson Hydro 2021 General Rate Increase Application can be found here: https://bit.ly/38yR5iy

 

As a separate proceeding, on November 27, 2020, Nelson Hydro filed a Cost of Service Analysis (COSA) and Rate Design Application (RDA) requesting approval to increase Rural residential rates over a three-year period, among other items. Nelson Hydro submits its analysis indicates that revenues are insufficient to cover the cost of service for the Rural residential rate class. Information regarding the Nelson Hydro COSA and RDA can be found here: https://bit.ly/37EwPMW

 

 

For more information on getting involved, please visit our website (www.bcuc.com/get-involved) or contact us at the information below.

 

GET MORE INFORMATION
Nelson Hydro Suite 101, 310 Ward Street Nelson, BC  V1L 5S4   E: dco@nelson.ca   P: 250.352.8254	British Columbia Utilities Commission Suite 410, 900 Howe Street Vancouver, BC Canada  V6Z 2N3   E: Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com   P: 604.660.4700