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BCUC issues ruling on F2013 interim rates

February 16, 2012

BCUC issues ruling on interim rates

The BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) issued a decision on February 15 regarding BC Hydro’s rate application which confirms an interim 3.91 per cent rate increase for the next fiscal year as applied for by BC Hydro. The decision also orders an interim increase to BC Hydro’s current rate rider of 2.5 per cent to 5 per cent. With compounding, the net annual bill impact for customers is a 7.07 per cent increase. These changes will be reflected on bills effective April 1, 2012.

For the average residential customer, BCUC’s decision on the rate rider translates into an overall increase of about $5 per month on the current rate, compared to an overall increase of $3 per month on the current rate requested by BC Hydro.

These decisions are part of the ongoing review process that will ultimately determine BC Hydro’s rates for the three fiscal years from 2012 to 2014.

About the BC Hydro rate rider:

• The rate rider is included on every customer’s bill. The funds collected are used to reduce BC Hydro's energy deferral accounts. BC Hydro uses deferral accounts to prevent sudden rate fluctuations that could result, for example, from higher-than-forecast market prices for energy or unexpectedly low water levels in reservoirs.

About the Updated Application:

• BC Hydro filed an amended application with the BCUC on November 24, 2011. The application confirmed a 50 per cent reduction to the cumulative rate increase filed with the BCUC in March 2011. The 50 per cent reduction was announced in August following a full government review of the Crown utility to help reduce future rate increases.
• Based on the government review’s recommendations, BC Hydro proposed an amended rate increase of 8 per cent (which is currently in place to March 31, 2012), followed by a 3.9 per cent increase for each of the next two years.

About BC Hydro

Fifty years ago, British Columbians turned to BC Hydro to build the clean electricity system they count on to power B.C.'s economy, create jobs in every region, and keep the lights on. Now, BC Hydro is building again for the next 50 years. B.C. continues to grow and so has the need for more electricity. That’s why BC Hydro is building and renewing electricity infrastructure, and encouraging conservation to meet today’s needs and those of future generations.

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Visit BC Hydro’s web site at www.bchydro.com or follow us on twitter: @bchydro