Staff Information:
Executive Compensation Reporting

BACKGROUND

The British Columbia Utilities Commission, located in Vancouver at 900 Howe Street, is a regulatory agency of the Provincial Government, operating under and administering the Utilities Commission Act. The Commission’s function is quasi-judicial and it has the power to make legally binding rulings. Decisions and orders of the Commission may be appealed to the Court of Appeal on questions of law or jurisdiction.

The Commission’s primary responsibilities are the regulation of utilities under its jurisdiction and the regulation of certain aspects of automobile insurance pursuant to the Insurance Corporation Amendment Act. The Administrative Tribunals Act also applies to matters before the Commission. In addition to its primary responsibilities, the Commission has regulatory responsibilities under the Utilities Commission Act for electricity transmission facilities, energy supply contracts and the issuance of gas marketing licenses. The Commission also reviews energy-related and basic automobile insurance matters referred to it by Cabinet; these reviews usually involve a public inquiry followed by a report and recommendations to Cabinet. In addition, under Part 7 of the Pipeline Act, the Commission establishes tolls and conditions of service for intra-provincial oil pipelines.

Through an open and transparent regulatory review process, the Commission ensures that:

• rates charged for energy are fair, just, and reasonable;
• energy utility operations provide safe, adequate, and secure service to their customers;
• the shareholders of public utilities under its jurisdiction are afforded a reasonable opportunity to earn a fair return on their invested capital;
• Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) universal compulsory automobile insurance is adequate, efficient, just and reasonable; and
• ICBC optional insurance is not subsidized by other ICBC operations.

The work of the Commission is important to the citizens and businesses of British Columbia because regulation instills a high degree of public confidence that competing interests between monopolies, consumers and other stakeholders are reconciled. Likewise, regulation sends a message beyond British Columbia that the province is a safe and fair place to do business.

In addition to its regulatory responsibilities, the Commission provides the following services and assistance: reviews ratepayers’ complaints about the actions of utilities, ICBC and independent gas marketers; adjudicates gas marketing disputes; provides copies of documentation prepared by the Commission (e.g. brochures, guidelines, orders, decisions, etc.); provides access to the Tariffs of regulated utilities and to the Code of Conduct and Rules for Gas Marketers; provides access to information filed in public hearings; responds to requests for general information regarding utilities and ICBC; and responds to requests for information regarding participating in Commission processes and making applications to the Commission.