Bennett Says B.C. Utilities Commission To Resume Setting BC Hydro Rates

VICTORIA — The B.C. government has vowed to make the provincial utilities commission more independent almost three years after it stepped in and refused to allow the body to raise hydro rates for customers.

 

Energy Minister Bill Bennett says the government is prepared to implement the recommendations of a task force that calls for a strengthened and independent B.C. Utilities Commission.

 

The task force report released last fall made 35 recommendations to improve the governance, processes and performance at the BCUC.

 

Bennett says the changes will ensure the utilities commission resumes its role of setting BC Hydro rates by the third year of the government's 10-year rates plan, announced in November 2013.

 

In a statement today, Bennett says the government will work to implement the task force recommendations so the utilities commission can resume setting BC Hydro rates, but he does not elaborate on whether the hydro rate cap remains.

 

In May 2012, then-energy minister Rich Coleman ordered that the proposed 30 per cent rate increase be chopped in half, saying families need a break and the utility could afford the cut.

 

Among the task force's recommendations are hiring full-time commissioners and developing a memorandum of understanding to ensure clear roles and responsibilities between the government and the utilities commission.