Transmission Rates
New default rate schedule
The B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) approved a new default rate schedule 1830 for transmission service customers, effective April 1, 2024. Most transmission accounts receive service under rate schedule 1830 of the Electric Tariff.
Customers previously served on rate schedule 1823 (stepped rate) will transition to rate schedule 1830 at the start of their first billing period on or after April 1, 2024. Customers previously served on rate schedule 1827 (rate for exempt customers) will transition to rate schedule 1830 starting April 1, 2024.
Certain eligible customers may choose to stay on rate schedule 1823 (stepped rate) until the end of the fiscal 2026 billing year.
For details about all tariff updates related to transmission service, see the summary below.
| Rate schedule (RS) | Key highlights |
|---|---|
| RS 1823: Stepped Rate |
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| RS 1825: Time-of-Use Rate |
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| RS 1827: Exempt Customers Rate |
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| RS 1830: Flat Rate |
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| RS 1852: Modified Demand Rate |
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| RS 1880: Standby and Maintenance Supply Rate |
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| RS 1891: Shore Power Service Rate |
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| RS 1892: Freshet Energy Rate |
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| RS 1893: Incremental Energy Rate (Pilot) |
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| RS 1894: Clean BC Industrial Electrification Clean Industry & Innovation Rate RS 1895: Clean BC Industrial Electrification Fuel Switching Rate |
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| General rates changes, riders and credits | |
|---|---|
| F25 general rate increase | The B.C. Utilities Commission approved a general rate increase of 6.42% across all rate classes effective April 1, 2024. |
| Deferral Account Rate Rider and Trade Income Rate Rider | The B.C. Utilities Commission approved BC Hydro's application for a Deferral Account Rate Rider and Trade Income Rate Rider for the period starting April 1, 2024 (fiscal 2025).
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| Electricity Affordability Bill Credit | On February 22, 2024 the Government of B.C. announced the Electricity Affordability Bill Credit of 4.6% for eligible BC Hydro customers.
Eligible transmission service rates:
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About transmission rates
Customers with transmission accounts use large amounts of energy and invest in electrical infrastructure that allows them to receive service at high voltage (60kV or higher).
The Electric Tariff contains the approved terms and conditions of distribution voltage service provided by BC Hydro as well as the approved rates for service at distribution voltage and transmission voltage.
Rate schedule 1830
| Minimum Charge | $10.154 per kVA of billing demand per billing period. |
Demand Charge Demand is measured by kilovolt amperes (kVA) over 30-minute intervals. The highest average 30-minute kVA in a billing period is used to calculate the demand charge on transmission bills. |
$10.154 per kVA of billing demand. |
Energy Charge 1830A For customers with a high share of Tier 1 energy use under rate schedule 1823 during the fiscal 2020 or fiscal 2022 billing year. |
4.811 cents per kWh applied to all kWh. |
Energy Charge 1830B For customers with a moderate share of Tier 1 energy use under rate schedule 1823 during the fiscal 2020 or fiscal 2022 billing year. |
5.101 cents per kWh. |
Energy Charge 1830C For customers with a low share of Tier 1 energy use under rate schedule 1823 during the fiscal 2020 or fiscal 2022 billing year; for customers previously taking service under Energy Charge 1823A of rate schedule 1823 and rate schedule 1827; and for new customers. |
5.374 cents per kWh. |
Rate schedule 1823
Transmission customers with ongoing customer-funded demand-side management (DSM) projects may elect to stay on rate schedule 1823 until the end of the fiscal 2026 billing year.
| Minimum Charge | $9.378 per kVA of billing demand per billing period. |
Demand Charge Demand is measured by kilovolt amperes (kVA) over 30-minute intervals. The highest average 30-minute kVA in a billing period is used to calculate the demand charge on transmission bills. |
$9.378 per kVA of billing demand. |
Energy Charge 1823A For customers who don't have a customer baseline load (CBL) by order of the BCUC. |
5.497 cents per kWh applied to all kWh. This rate will apply until the customer has been supplied with electricity under this rate schedule for 12 billing periods or another period approved by BCUC, after which the customer will be supplied with electricity at the rate specified in charge B below. |
Energy Charge 1823B For customers with a CBL. |
4.891 cents per kWh applied to all kWh up to and including 90% of the CBL in each billing year. 10.955 cents per kWh applied to all kWh above 90% of the CBL in each billing year. |
Please note that in the event of differences between the details noted here and the official Electric Tariff issued by BC Hydro, the official Electric Tariff will prevail.