Rates – Deferral Program
Please see the summary Utility Payment Deferral Program: Various Applications for Funding Approval for the background of this application.
Application
On May 22, 2020, EPCOR Energy Alberta GP Inc., a regulated rate provider as defined in the Electric Utilities Act, filed an application pursuant to the UPDP Act, requesting the following:
Approval to establish a deferral account for the purposes of administration of deferred bill payments normally due during the period from March 18, 2020 to June 18, 2020 (deferral period).
AUC Findings
Pursuant to Section 4 of the UPDP Act, an eligible electricity customer may enroll in a bill payment deferral program with their electricity service provider. The AUC found that EPCOR Energy Alberta GP Inc. is an electricity service provider with eligible electricity customers enrolled in the Utility Payment Deferral Program.
Pursuant to Subsection 7(1) of the UPDP Act, a regulated rate provider, who is otherwise precluded from establishing a deferral account under sections 3(2) and 6(2) of the Regulated Rate Option Regulation, may request approval from the AUC to establish a deferral account for the administration of the deferred payments of billing amounts charged in respect of electricity on an enrolled electricity customer’s bill. The AUC found that EPCOR Energy Alberta GP Inc. is a regulated rate provider under the Regulated Rate Option Regulation and approved the establishment of a deferral account for the administration of the deferred payments under the UPDP Act.
