Orders

 

ORDER NUMBER

F-24-24

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority

Reconsideration of the Performance Based Regulation Report Order G-388-21

Participant Cost Award Application

 

BEFORE:

M. Jaccard, Panel Chair

A. K. Fung, KC, Commissioner

E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner

 

on May 2, 2024

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On December 21, 2023, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for reconsideration of BCUC Decision and Order G-388-21 related to the BC Hydro Performance Based Regulation (PBR) Report (PBR Report Decision) (Application), requesting the BCUC to vary the directive in Order G-388-21 to:

(a)    permit BC Hydro to file its revenue requirements applications based on a forecast cost of service approach until further order of the BCUC; and

(b)    require BC Hydro to file a report by the end of December 2028 assessing whether its operating environment has changed such that PBR has become feasible;

B.      By Order G-14-24, the BCUC granted BC Hydro’s request for permission to apply for reconsideration of the PBR Report Decision and determined that the request for reconsideration should proceed to a hearing. The order also established a regulatory timetable for the review of the Application, which included intervener registration, the filing of supplementary information by BC Hydro, and final and reply arguments;

C.      The BCUC received final arguments from eight interveners during the proceeding;

D.      On March 15, 2024, by Decision and Order G-73-24, the BCUC issued its final decision on the Application;

E.       The following participants filed Participant Cost Award (PCA) applications with the BCUC with respect to their participation in the proceeding:

 

F.       By letter dated April 16, 2024, BC Hydro provided its comments on the PCA applications, stating that each of the participants properly incurred the costs applied for in preparing their final argument, which was proportionate to the scope and complexity of the proceeding. BC Hydro notes that although RCIA’s costs were comparatively higher than those of the other participants, it concludes RCIA’s costs to be reasonable as its final argument covered a number of topics, examined in depth; and

G.      The BCUC has reviewed the PCA applications in accordance with the criteria and rates set out in the Rules of Practice and Procedure, and determines that the PCA applications should be approved.

 

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118 of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       Costs are awarded to the following participants in the listed amounts, inclusive of applicable taxes, for their participation in the BC Hydro Reconsideration of the Performance Based Regulation Report Order G-388-21 proceeding:

 

2.       BC Hydro is directed to reimburse the above-noted participants for the awarded amounts in a timely manner.

 

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this                  2^nd               day of May 2024.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

M. Jaccard

Commissioner