Category: BCUC updates

On December 21, 2023, the BCUC recommended that more commercial thermal energy systems should be exempt from active regulation. The BCUC’s current “Stream A” thermal energy systems have been exempt from active regulation since 2014. Stream A thermal energy systems must reside on a single site and require less than $15 million in capital to…

On December 22, 2023, the BCUC rejected Fortis Energy Inc.’s (FEI’s) application to expand its pipeline capacity in the Okanagan. FEI had requested approval from the BCUC for approximately 30 km of new pipeline because the capacity of its existing pipeline serving the central and north Okanagan regions of BC, including the urban centres of…

On December 22, 2023, the BCUC published its “final list of efficiencies”, following feedback from stakeholders on the BCUC’s draft list. The BCUC did not identify the specific changes from its draft list of efficiencies, presumably on the grounds of efficiency. However, the BCUC acknowledges that there was concern from some stakeholders that its proposed…

In a letter dated November 21, 2023, the BCUC has denied a request from the Association of Major Power Consumers (AMPC) to participate as an intervener in a hearing that will affect the BC Hydro rates its members (and other ratepayers) pay. The matter concerns BC Hydro’s rates for fiscal year 2025, approved by the…

On December 12, 2023, the BCUC approved an increase of 6.74 percent to the electricity rates for FortisBC Inc. (FBC). Similar to FEI’s gas delivery rate for 2024, the BCUC’s recent cost of capital decision also increased the return FBC can earn, although by a smaller amount compared to its sister company FEI. The BCUC…

On December 7, 2023, the BCUC approved an increase of 8.00% in the gas delivery rate for FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) for 2024. However, the real increase in FEI’s costs to deliver gas in 2024 is considerably higher. Customers pay the delivery rate to cover FEI’s cost of delivering their gas, but the delivery rate…

On December 5, 2023, the BCUC approved Nelson Hydro’s request for an increase of 9.87 percent for its rural ratepayers for 2023 (the BCUC only sets rates for Nelson Hydro’s rural customers and not its municipal customers). But that “approval” is not the full story – rural customers will likely pay less for their electricity…

On November 16, 2023, the BCUC wrote to its stakeholders seeking their feedback on a series of proposed efficiencies. Feedback was due November 30, 2023. Several of these proposed efficiencies may affect the ability of public interest groups and other interveners to participate in future BCUC proceedings. The BCUC’s proposed efficiencies include the following: Interveners…