Yukon Utilities Board Applications

The Terms & Conditions of Service (T&Cs), Maximum Investment Levels (MILs) and Fees and Service Charge Summary (Fees Schedule) were last amended in July 2011 and approved in Board Decision 2011-05. Prior to 2011, minor revisions were approved in 2005, refer Decision 2005-12, two which focused on clarifying definitions.

The intention of modernizing the T&Cs is to enhance clarity, transparency and ease of understanding of the provisions under which electricity service is provided, including the rights and obligations of both the utility and the customer, and to reflect the Utilities’ current practices and policies, legislation and regulations. It’s also to address different circumstances which were not present in 2011. 

Customer Generation: The Utilities have expanded the Customer Generation section to ensure safety, compliance, and clear communication between the Utilities and the generating customers. By requiring all necessary permits, licenses, and authorizations before starting or changing service, the Utilities can ensure that all interconnections meet regulatory and technical standards.

Changes in Significant Load and Isolated Community: The Utilities have updated this section to better manage service connections. The section name is now more encompassing, covering a broader range of scenarios, with subsections for significant load increases, like those from Electric Vehicles (EVs).

Cost Sharing: The Utilities have made changes to provide a clear and fair framework for cost sharing among customers requiring service extensions. The update ensures that the administrative burden is manageable and costs are equitably distributed.

Multiple Dwellings: The Utilities have updated the Multiple Dwellings section to include provisions for common use areas – such as hallways, lobbies, laundry rooms, elevators, and parkades – will be billed under the General Service price schedule. If service to a multiple dwelling residence is delivered through a single point, the General Service (non-residential) price schedule will apply. Additionally, the Utilities have reviewed the definition of a Residential customer and accounted for situations where a single home is used for Commercial purposes.

Company Facilities, Customer Liability, and Electric Codes: The Utilities have made changes to enhance access to the Utilities’ facilities to prioritize safety and ensure the integrity of the Utilities’ infrastructure and to ensure applicable requirements of the Canadian Electrical Codes are met.

Standard Meter: The Utilities have modified this section to allow customers more flexibility and control over their metering options. By enabling customers to request Non-Standard Meters, the Utilities can accommodate specific needs and preferences. This change also helps the Utilities comply with regulatory requirements, streamline operational processes, and manage costs effectively.

Termination of Service: The Utilities have made to ensure that the utilities can effectively manage and protect their infrastructure and service quality. 

The purpose of an investment policy is to establish rules and guidelines that govern the Utilities’ investments in customer extensions. It considers factors like economic efficiency, intergenerational equity, and regulatory standards. This approach achieves several outcomes including: ensuring equity between new and existing customers, allowing utilities to earn a fair return, promoting orderly grid development and growth, and sending appropriate price signals for new developments.

It has been over 10-years since a comprehensive MILs Study was conducted. AEY completed a comprehensive new MILs Study that includes 10-years of historical data with a large sample size of projects to establish appropriate MILs. AEY also completed supplemental analysis, such as a desktop study, to support the MILs request. The study includes an inflation mechanism for future years.

There are four MIL values that are approved for the service types:

1. Residential Single Family
2. Residential Multiple Dwelling
3. General Service 
4. Street Lighting

Based on the findings of the MILs Study, approval is requested for the following MILs by service type are as following:

• Residential Single Family $ 10,337/site
• Residential Multiple Dwelling $ 2,645/site
• General Service $ 1,801/kW
• Street Lighting $ 6,649/light

You can review all the proposed fees and service charges in Schedule D - Fees Schedule in the full application. However, the more substantive changes and new fees proposals are as follows:

Connection and Reconnection Fees: For connection and reconnection fees, the fee is adjusted to reflect the actual work involved. The proposed connection and reconnection fees during normal business hours are set at $87, which is an increase from the previous values of $50 and $60, respectively.

Customer Usage Information Requests: Regarding customer usage Information Requests, the fee applies to historical usage Information Requests with written authorization from the customer. The proposed minimum cost associated with these requests is $75.

Supplementary Meter Reads: Driven by modernization efforts such as AMI meters, for supplementary meter reads, standard meter reads are charged per read per meter at the customer service rate of $11. Non-standard meter reads are proposed at $87, similar to the reconnection fee. These charges reflect the actual time and resources required for each meter read, ensuring that the service remains cost-effective and efficient.

Late Payment and Disconnection: In terms of late payment and disconnection, the collection fee is charged at the customer service rate proposed at $45 compared to $30 set previously, with a minimum charge of one hour. The late payment charge is 1.5 percent per month, which amounts to 19.56 percent per annum. Maintaining this charge encourages timely payments and helps manage the financial risk associated with late payments. The fee for dishonored payments is also charged at the customer service rate proposed at $45 compared to $25 set previously, with a minimum charge of one hour.

Meter Disputes: For meter disputes, the meter accuracy test handling fee applies to self-contained meters and instrument meters are handled by Measurement Canada to ensure standardization and accuracy. The new fees are proposed at $250 and $500. These new charges reflect the actual time and resources required for each meter dispute.

Through the Application, the utilities are not directly seeking the change in the rates.

If approved, the proposed increase in maximum utility investments will reduce the upfront cost customers have to pay to have a power line built or new service installed at their home or business. This would result in the utility bearing more of the upfront costs of these types of installations, which would lead to an increase in rates.

Ratepayers would see the impact when utilities file General Rate Applications reflecting these lower customer contributions. The exact rate impact would depend on the number of new connections built.

There are some services that utilities provide that are customer-specific and only charged to customers upon their request such as connection and reconnection fees, meter accuracy test handling fees, and supplementary meter reads. These, if approved, would result in higher costs for those customers requesting such services.

No, the submission does not directly impact customer bills or introduce new riders. The customer bills could be affected when the new rates are approved, reflecting a higher rate base, or when a specific customer makes a request for a service not covered by rates.

This is because the proposed increase in maximum utility investments, once approved, will reduce the amount customers pay for new connections. This will result in utilities bearing more of the upfront cost and a higher utility rate base, leading to an increase in rates.

No, the submission does introduce a new charge for electric vehicles, however, a new requirement was added where in off-grid communities' systems, service for electric vehicle charging purposes may be supplied to customers only with the prior written permission of the utilities.