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, Direct Energy Marketing Limited, under Direct Energy Regulated Services, a regulated rate provider as defined in the Electric Utilities Act, filed an application pursuant to the UPDP Act, requesting the following:
Approval for funding from the Balancing Pool for bill payment amounts deferred by its eligible electricity customers during the period from March 18, 2020 to May 8, 2020 (deferral period).
On May 22, 2020, Direct Energy Marketing Limited, under Direct Energy Partnership, an electricity service provider that is not a regulated rate provider as defined in the Electric Utilities Act, filed an application pursuant to the UPDP Act, requesting the following:
Approval for funding from the Balancing Pool for bill payment amounts deferred by its eligible electricity customers during the deferral period.
On May 22, 2020, Direct Energy Marketing Limited, under Direct Energy Regulated Services, a default supply provider as defined in Subsection 12(2)(b) of the UPDP Act, filed an application pursuant to the UPDP Act, requesting the following:
Approval for a loan from the Associate Minister of Natural Gas and Electricity (Minister) for bill payment amounts deferred by its eligible gas customers during the deferral period.
On May 22, 2020, Direct Energy Marketing Limited, under Direct Energy Partnership, a gas service provider as defined in Subsection 12(1)(c) of the UPDP Act, filed an application pursuant to the UPDP Act, requesting the following:
Approval for a loan from the Associate Minister of Natural Gas and Electricity (Minister) for bill payment amounts deferred by its eligible gas customers during the 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 Direct Energy Partnership and Direct Energy Regulated Services are electricity service providers with eligible electricity customers enrolled in the Utility Payment Deferral Program.
Pursuant to Subsection 8(1) of the UPDP Act, an electricity service provider with eligible enrolled electricity customers may apply to the AUC for funding from the Balancing Pool for the deferred bill payment amounts, other than for the portion of the electricity bill payment amounts that relate to transmission charges. The funding applications and requested funding amounts for Direct Energy Marketing Limited, under Direct Energy Partnership and Direct Energy Regulated Services, were approved as applied for.
Pursuant to Section 14 of the UPDP Act, an eligible gas customer may enroll in a bill payment deferral program with their gas service provider. The AUC found that Direct Energy Partnership and Direct Energy Regulated Services are gas service providers with eligible gas customers enrolled in the Utility Payment Deferral Program.
Pursuant to Section 18 of the UPDP Act, a gas service provider with eligible enrolled gas customers may apply to the AUC for a loan from the Minister for the gas bill payment amounts deferred by enrolled eligible gas customers, other than the portion of the gas bill payment amounts that relate to transmission charges. The loan application and requested loan amount for Direct Energy Marketing Limited, under Direct Energy Partnership and Direct Energy Regulated Services, was approved as applied for.
