BC HYDRO 2 TIERED RATE STRUCTURE REVIEW PROCESS GUIDE JULY 28, 2016

In 2015 BC Hydro applied to the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) for a residential rate increase The RDMW & District of Port Hardy put a resolution to the AVICC requesting support for changing the two-tiered rate which results in overcharging areas of rural BC that are not served by natural gas The Minister has ordered a review based on this resolution & requested input by August 15 th. BACKGROUND

The BC Utilities Commission is requesting information from residential electricity customers on: The impacts of the residential inclining block electricity rates; and Customers’ awareness to mitigate any impacts

BCUC requested Local Government assistance in notifying the public so residents can say how this impacted them : Courtesy: District of Port Hardy

This links to the Letter of Comment Form & instructions, to be completed on-line:

or the form can be picked up at local government offices: Residential Inclining Electricity Rates

Good information to support your impact statement is found from every user’s BC Hydro on- line account This view shows a Port McNeill house summer hydro use with 4 residents that that stayed in the Step 1 range only 4 days of 30 : no heat on, no dryer use. Here the cost is 9% higher (~$6)* than if charged out at the step 1 rate for the entire period. * Billing period totals can be found under the “accounts & billing tab”

Same house in January with electric heat on, dryer use. This was after new windows installed & all lights replaced with LEDs for a 34% hydro use reduction. Heat was set at 16 degrees. (customer mitigation effort example). Consumption reached Step 2 levels every day. Here the charge is 31% higher ($49) than if than if charged out at the step 1 rate for the entire period.

Alternatively, paper billing also provides good information about rates and consumption: This example shows that only 14% was charged out at the higher step 2 price. Current Tier Rates

Thanks for your help…