BC Hydro submits Large General Service rate application to British Columbia Utilities Commission
VANCOUVER – BC Hydro has filed a revenue-neutral rate design application for the Large General Service class with the British Columbia Utilities Commission at the direction of the commission and in keeping with the B.C. Energy Plan mandate to acquire at least 50 per cent of the province's additional electricity needs through conservation by 2020.
The Large General Service class is comprised of business customers with capacity demand greater than 35 kilowatts. The Large General Service class is BC Hydro's third largest customer class after the Transmission and Residential classes, both of which already have conservation rates in place.
Beginning in the fall of 2008, BC Hydro held sessions with stakeholders and customers seeking input on the proposed Large General Service design. The application now before the commission incorporates input from those public sessions.
BC Hydro anticipates the proposed rate design, if accepted by the commission, would result in energy savings of up to 1,730 gigawatt hours of electricity annually by 2015 – enough electricity to power approximately 400 large office buildings.
While the timeline and structure of the regulatory process is determined by the commission, it is anticipated that the regulatory process could result in the commission issuing an order in 2010, with the new conservation rate structure to apply in 2011.
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Dag Sharman
Media Relations
Phone: 604 623 4022