Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-328-24

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

Nelson Hydro

2025 Revenue Requirements

BEFORE:

E. B. Lockhart, Panel Chair

E. A. Brown, Commissioner

W. E. Royle, Commissioner

on December 10, 2024

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On October 31, 2024, Nelson Hydro filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) seeking approval of a general annual rate increase of 7.54 percent for the Rural service area subject to adjustments and any directives or determinations made in Stage 2 of the BCUC’s Generic Cost of Capital (GCOC) proceeding (Application), pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA);

B.      Nelson Hydro is owned and operated by the City of Nelson and is excluded from regulation under the 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 requests that the 7.54 percent general annual rate increase for the Rural service area be approved on an interim basis, effective January 1, 2025;

D.      By Order G-300-24 dated November 15, 2024, the BCUC approved Nelson Hydro’s proposed rates on an interim, refundable or recoverable basis and established the regulatory timetable for the review of the Application, which includes public notice and an Evidentiary Update to the Application, among other matters;

E.       By Decision and Order G-391-24 dated November 29, 2024, the BCUC issued the GCOC Stage 2 Decision, which directed Nelson Hydro to address certain items regarding the implementation of a new allowed return by way of an Evidentiary Update to the Application and to file revised tariff pages by January 31, 2025;

F.       By letter dated December 4, 2024, the BCUC requested Nelson Hydro to confirm whether it wishes to keep the regulatory timetable for the Application unchanged as set out in Order G-300-24 or propose an extension to the regulatory timetable to file the Evidentiary Update;

G.      By letter dated December 5, 2024, Nelson Hydro requested an extension until January 31, 2025, to file the Evidentiary Update and proposed an amended regulatory timetable for the Application; and

H.      The BCUC has considered Nelson Hydro’s extension request and finds that an amended regulatory timetable for the review of the Application is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

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

2.       Nelson Hydro must provide a copy of this order by Monday, December 16, 2024, electronically where possible, to the registered interveners in the following proceedings:

                     i.            Nelson Hydro 2023 Revenue Requirements Application; and

                   ii.            Nelson Hydro 2022 Cost of Service Analysis and Rate Design Application.

3.       Nelson Hydro is directed to post a revised Public Notice of the Application, attached as Appendix B to this order, on its website and social media platforms by Monday, December 16, 2024.

4.       Nelson Hydro must provide confirmation of compliance with Directives 2 and 3 of this order by Thursday, December 19, 2024, including a list of parties notified and the social media platforms on which the revised Public Notice was posted.

5.       Nelson Hydro is directed to post the revised Public Notice on its social media platforms to remind the public of the letters of comment period. The posting activity is required on a monthly basis during the first week of each month, until the deadline specified in the amended regulatory timetable.

6.       Nelson Hydro must provide confirmation of compliance with Directive 5 of this order by Wednesday,
March 19, 2025.

7.       Directives 6 and 7 of Order G-300-24 are rescinded.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this            10^th            day of December 2024.

BY ORDER

Electronically signed by Elizabeth Lockhart

E. B. Lockhart

Commissioner

Nelson Hydro

2025 Revenue Requirements

NELSON HYDRO 2025 RATES APPLICATION

On October 31, 2024, Nelson Hydro filed a revenue requirements (rates) application requesting approval to increase electricity rates by 7.54 percent for its rural service area, effective January 1, 2025 (Application). The BCUC has started a proceeding to review the Application.

For more information about the Application, please visit the Proceeding Webpage on bcuc.com under “Our Work – Proceedings”. Subscribe to this Proceeding on bcuc.com under “Get Involved” to receive email notifications when public documents are added to the proceeding or contact us at the information below.