PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Eighth Annual Report OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION Pursuant to Section 64 of the "Public Utilities Act" For the Year ended December 31st, 1946 PRINTED BY AUTHORITY OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. VICTORIA, B.C. : Printed by Dox MoDiaemid, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty. 1947. Victoria, B.C., February 28th, 1947. To His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor in Council of the Province of British Columbia. May it please Your Honour: Sir,—We have the honour to transmit herewith, in accordance with section 64 of the " Public Utilities Act," the Eighth Annual Report of the Public Utilities Commission under that Act for the year ended December 31st, 1946. PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, ■ W. A. Carrothers, Chairman. L. W. Patmore, Commissioner. J. C. MacDonald, Commissioner. CONTENTS. Page. Scope of Report 7 Legislation - 7 Regulations 7 Operations of Public Utility Systems— New Construction, New Operations, and Expansions 7 New Supplies of Electric Power for Lower Mainland Area 8 New Supplies of Gas for Vancouver and Victoria 9 Shortages of Materials 10 Discontinuance and Suspension of Service 10 Complaints as to Service by Public Utilities 10 Rates— Investigation of British Columbia Electric Railway Company, Limited 10 Rate Changes filed under Section 16 of " Public Utilities Act " 12 Rate Complaints 12 Security Issues, Mortgages, and Sales— Security Issues and Mortgages 12 Refinancing of British Columbia Electric Railway Company, Limited 13 Sales of Assets by Public Utility Systems 14 Revenue and Expenses, 1940-46 14 Tables- No. 1.—Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity 15 No. 2—Extensions permitted under Section 12a of " Public Utilities Act" 16 No. 3.—Particulars of Extensions by British Columbia Electric Railway Company, Limited 16 No. 4—Applications to require Public Utilities to extend Systems 17 No. 5.—Applications to discontinue or suspend Service 19 No. 6.—Complaints as to service of Public Utilities 19 No. 7.—Rate Changes consented to pursuant to Section 16 of " Public Utilities Act" 19 No. 8.—Rate Complaints 22 No. 9.—Security Issues and Mortgages 22 No. 10.—Sales of Assets of Public Utility Systems 23 No. 11.—Comparative Statement of Revenue and Expenses 23 Eighth Annual Report of the Public Utilities Commission under the "Public Utilities Act" for the Calendar Year ended December 31st, 1946. SCOPE OF REPORT. This report of the Public Utilities Commission is made in accordance with section 64 of the " Public Utilities Act " and covers the calendar year ended December 31st, 1946. It does not cover the work of the Commission under the " Motor Carrier Act," a separate report of which is being made pursuant to section 36 of that Act. LEGISLATION. The amendments to the " Public Utilities Act" in 1946 relate solely to milk, over which the Milk Board has jurisdiction and not the Public Utilities Commission. REGULATIONS MADE DURING 1946 UNDER THE "PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT." No new regulations or revisions were made by the Commission under the " Public Utilities Act " during the year. OPERATIONS OF PUBLIC UTILITY SYSTEMS. New Construction and Operation, and Expansion by Public Utility Systems. New construction or operation, or expansion, of a public utility system requires the approval or consent of the Commission under section 12 or 12a of the " Public Utilities Act." A summary of applications for certificates of public convenience and necessity received or decided during the year is set out in Table 1. In the case of extensions of a more or less routine nature, such as extensions of distribution systems to serve new customers, the Commission, pursuant to the powers set out in section 12a, relieves the public utility from the requirement of obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity. A summary of extensions permitted under section 12a is set out in Table 2. It will be noted that the majority are extensions made by the British Columbia Electric Railway Company, Limited. Of the 397 extensions of electric power systems permitted to this company under section 12a, 394 were extensions of electric distribution-lines, particulars of which are set out in Table 3. The other three were the installation of dust-recovery apparatus at the Brentwood steam plant (near Victoria), improvements in sub-station, transmission and distribution facilities in the Greater Vancouver area, and improvements in transmission, transformer, and distribution facilities on Vancouver Island. As noted in Table 2, the Commission permitted a number of extensions of transportation systems under section 12a. These were in connection with temporary bus service in the municipalities of Richmond and Burnaby pending franchise negotiations, temporary service in Stanley Park during the Jubilee celebrations in Vancouver, and extensions of bus service in the Municipality of Esquimalt. A number of letters were received by the Commission from persons desiring extensions of public utility systems to serve their premises. Many of these called for merely an explanation of the principles and terms on which the extensions should be made. Those which were more in the nature of complaints are summarized in Table 4. H 8 BRITISH COLUMBIA. New Supplies of Electric Power for Lower Mainland Area. The report of the Commission for 1945 explained the need for new supplies of electric power for the Lower Mainland area and referred to the order of June 6th, 1945, requiring the British Columbia Electric Railway Company, Limited, to proceed without delay with the development of an initial stage of the Bridge River project, involving a capacity of at least 45,000 kilowatts. The company had, on March 26th, 1945, issued an order to the Shawinigan Engineering Company, of Montreal, to prepare plans and specifications for the initial works to be carried out at the Bridge River power-site. These were submitted to the Commission on February 25th, 1946. The approximate cost of the development of the initial stage of the Bridge River project was estimated at $10,920,000. The initial works will include the following :— (a) Construction of a diversion-dam at Site No. 7, which is immediately below the present tunnel intake. (6) Miscellaneous works at the Seton Lake end of the tunnel. (c) Construction of a 6-foot 4-inch diameter penstock from the tunnel to the power-house site. (d) Construption of the first portion of the power-house, with settings for three machines. (e) Installation of one 62,000-horsepower hydro-electric generating unit. (/) Necessary low-voltage switching equipment, together with auxiliary equipment and transformer capacity to step up voltage for transmission to Vancouver. (g) One 230-kilovolt transmission-line, to be carried on steel towers from Bridge River to Vancouver. The certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the Commission in connection with the project is included in Table 1. The progress made during 1946 is outlined in a report of February 28th, 1947, from the company to the Commission, from which the following is quoted:— " Dealing first with the Diversion Dam, for which the construction contract was signed on May 29, 1946, and work begun on June 5, a reasonably satisfactory rate of progress has been maintained, the greatest difficulty being inexperienced labour. On February 20, 313 men were employed by the contractor. Up to that date 180,000 cubic yards of rock had been removed from the spillway channel, leaving approximately 18,000 cubic yards still to be removed to complete this portion of the work. Placing of concrete in this spillway section was commenced on February 19. Sheet steel piling and reinforcing steel are on hand together with a supply of the embedded members to accommodate the sluice gates. The balance of the embedded members are being completed at the Western Bridge Company shops and will be ready for installation when sufficient concrete has been placed to receive them. " Work on the upstream coffer dam, approximately 70 per cent, complete, has been carried as far as is possible until the river has been diverted from its original channel to the new spillway. Approximately 70,000 bags of cement have been transported to the site and approximately 19,000 cubic yards of sand and gravel are in adjacent rock piles. " On November 1, 1946, orders were placed for the first main generator and the first turbine. The generator was ordered from the Canadian Westinghouse Company and the turbine from the Pelton Water Wheel Company of San Francisco. Through an arrangement with the Vancouver Engineering Works, the greater part of the turbine will be constructed and assembled in the Vancouver shops of the latter company. REPORT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, 1946. H 9 " Preliminary drawings of both generator and turbine have just come to hand which will permit completing the design of the generating station and calling for tenders on the building. Tenders for the first step-up transformer bank were called for on December 28, 1946, and for the first penstock on January 24, 1947. "Work commenced.on preparation for construction of the transmission line on June 3, 1946. At the end of last week the number of men employed on clearing operations, excavation and construction of tower footings was 230. Seven camps have been established, about 45 miles of clearing completed and 5 miles of road, in addition to a mile of pack-trail, has been constructed. " Orders were placed on April 7, 1946, for transmission line towers and up to February 22, a total of 59 tower bases have been completed. Excavation for an additional 33 has been completed, for which steel is on site and partially in place. In addition, anchor bolts have been delivered for a considerable number of towers which will sit on solid rock, and drilling for these anchor bolts is under way. Orders for suspension insulators for the line were placed on May 13, and for the necessary conductors on July 12. Orders for hardware were placed on September 10. All of these items are scheduled for delivery as the erection of towers progresses." New Supplies of Gas for Vancouver and Victoria. On December 13th, 1945, the Commission granted a certificate of public convenience and necessity to Victoria Gas Company, Limited, authorizing an addition to its gas- production plant. This certificate was noted in the report of the Public Utilities Commission for 1945. Gas consumption in the Victoria area had increased from 158,000,000 cubic feet in 1938-39 to 320,000,000 cubic feet in 1944, the bulk of the demand coming from domestic and commercial users, with a relatively small demand from industrial users. In 1941 an old water gas set of 500,000 cubic feet capacity, which had been discarded from the Vancouver plant, was reconditioned and put into service in Victoria owing to heavily increasing gas load and the impossibility of obtaining new plant in war-time. This brought the total manufacturing capacity to 1,500,000 cubic feet per day. With the increasing load it was apparent in 1945 that a new plant of enlarged capacity would be needed as soon as obtainable. The Commission's certificate of December 13th, 1945, authorized the installation of a new carburetted water gas- generating set with a capacity of 1,200,000 cubic feet per day. It was expected that the new installation would be completed before the 1946-47 winter. Conditions in Vancouver were similar to those in Victoria. Demand for gas had increased to the point where there was no surplus generating capacity at peak periods even with the use of old equipment which had been reconditioned and put into service out of necessity during the war. The total manufacturing capacity was 9,500,000 cubic feet per day. On February 13th, 1946, the Commission granted a certificate authorizing the installation of a reverse-flow carburetted water gas manufacturing set with a capacity of 4,500,000 cubic feet per day. There appeared to be a reasonable probability of having the installation in operation in time to meet the 1946-47 winter peaks if delays in obtaining and installing the unit could be avoided. By the late summer of 1946 it was becoming apparent that the new gas-generating capacity in Victoria and Vancouver would not be in operation in time to meet the winter peaks, and that some temporary restriction of service would be necessary. A report from the company dated August 29th, 1946, stated:— " The company is experiencing grave difficulties in constructing new plant in order to take care of expanding requirements for gas, and therefore it is likely to be extremely difficult to meet winter peak requirements during this year if the company is required to take on additional gas heating load. We are now having difficulties in obtaining materials for the construction of the company's new gas plants, which are certainly H 10 BRITISH COLUMBIA. bound to delay completion of these units until well on into the winter heating season. At the same time there is a growing demand for gas as a house heating fuel, and if these are to be accepted the company will be placed in an extremely precarious position with respect to its winter peak load this year." On August 30th, 1946, the Commission granted its consent to the withholding of the quoting of gas space-heating rates to any additional customers and to refusing the granting of such rates for a period of eight months. It was expected that under normal conditions the company would then be able to protect existing gas customers against serious disruptions of service during the winter peak. Unfortunately a severe cold spell brought about especially heavy demands, which resulted in a short period of low pressure and restricted service both in Vancouver and Victoria. The new installation in Victoria was put into operation in February, 1947, and this should ensure an adequate supply of gas for many years to come. The new plant in Vancouver has not been completed, as of the date of this report, but is well along toward completion, and it may be assumed that it will be in operation before the next peak occurs. This should ensure an adequate supply of gas in Vancouver for many years to come. Shortages of Materials. There has been a steadily increasing demand for public utility service during and after the war years. During the war, expansion of plants and systems could only be carried out in accordance with Dominion controls. Materials were not available to provide for future demands of a purely civilian nature. The end of the war brought increasingly insistent demands for additional service with no corresponding improvement in the availability of materials. Delays were unavoidable in meeting the new demands. In the case of electric utilities, shortages of transformers and wire were especially serious. On December 3rd, 1946, the British Columbia Electric Railway Company, Limited, had eighty-five large extensions of electric distribution-lines in an unfinished state. This number includes only extensions requiring ten poles or more. Further, there was a very large number of other extensions, large and small, approved and ready for installation. To avoid complaints of discrimination, it was necessary to follow a fair and definite policy in completing extensions, and the company advised the Commission that it was following a policy of strict priority. West Kootenay Power and Light Company, Limited, experienced the same problems and also established a priority system, completing extensions as materials became available according to the order of date of application for service. Discontinuance and Suspension of Service. Particulars of applications by public utilities to discontinue or suspend service are set forth in Table 5. Complaints as to Service by Public Utilities. Particulars of complaints as to service provided by public utilities are set forth in Table 6. RATES. Investigation of British Columbia Electric Railway Company, Limited, and Associated and Subsidiary Companies. By an order dated August 15th, 1939, the Commission commenced an inquiry into the property, operations, and rates of the British Columbia Electric Railway Company, Limited, and its associated and subsidiary companies. Pursuant to this order and I REPORT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, 1946. H 11 supplementary instructions an appraisal of property was made by the Commission's Chief Engineer and the financial results of operations were investigated for the Commission by the accounting firm of George A. Touche & Company. The report of the Chief Engineer was submitted to the Commission on August 8th, 1941, and the report of the accounting firm in October, 1941. Both reports were made available to the public on November 1st, 1941. Public hearings were begun on August 24th, 1942, at which these reports and the representations of interested parties were submitted. These hearings were continued until January 12th, 1943. In accordance with the requirements of section 15 of the " Public Utilities Act" ■ the Commission investigated the properties and revenues of each " service unit" separately. The service units into which the operations as a whole were divided were :■— Electric service—Lower Mainland. Electric service—Vancouver Island South. Electric service—Alberni. Electric service—Kamloops. Electric service—Newcastle-Nanoose. Electric service—Comox-Nelson. Gas service—Lower Mainland. Gas service—Vancouver Island South. Urban transportation—Lower Mainland. Urban transportation—Vancouver Island South. Interurban transportation—Lower Mainland. Water service—Comox-Nelson. Following the public hearings, the findings of the Commission were set out in a report to the Lieutenant-Governor in Council dated July, 1943. Schedule A of that report shows the appraised values of the properties of each service unit. Schedule B comprises an analysis of the historical cost of funds for the companies as a whole. Schedule C shows the relation of revenue to cost of service for each service unit for each of the years 1939-1942, inclusive. The revenue was in excess of the cost of service in 1942 in several service units. Schedule D shows the relation of revenue to cost of service and taxes for 1942 for all services combined, the result being a deficit of $480,246 for the year on the basis of the fair return allowable under the " Public Utilities Act." In November, 1943, the Commission issued a supplementary report which, because of its bearing on the subsequent actions of the Commission, is quoted herewith, as follows:— " In the first report of the Public Utilities Commission on the investigation into the rates and service of the British Columbia Electric Railway Company, Limited, it was found that on the basis of the 1942 revenues a reduction in charges to customers in some units of service was indicated. An inspection of the business during the past five years indicated also that these revenues cannot be considered to be normal. Their continuance at present levels cannot be assumed. " It was also reported that because of the abnormal conditions at the present time it is not opportune to make a complete revision of rate structures. Hearings with regard to rates were postponed until a later date. It is the opinion of the Commission that any change at the present time should be made in the simplest and most flexible way to be easily modified as the unstable conditions of the time may require. " It is the opinion of the Commission, however, that the revenues of the company are such as to justify some relief to the customers of the company, particularly in the electric service. The question arises as to the manner of giving such relief. A percentage alteration in those charges which appear most out of line was suggested in our H 12 BRITISH COLUMBIA. first report. We find that the application of this method would likely involve some delay as its adoption is based to some extent on the full findings of the report. " In view of this, believing the customers to be entitled to some immediate relief, we recommend that this be given through the omission of billing of customers for a definite period. This method has the advantage of giving consideration to the unstable character of the situation at the present time, due to war conditions. Such a method would give immediate relief and allow further time for the consideration of the first report of the Commission in the future, as it would not necessarily involve the full acceptance of that report. This method would be essentially temporary in character, and would leave the Commission free to make such further orders in the future as are ■ deemed desirable in the circumstances. "Apart from the effect of this in reducing the revenues of the company, it would, to some extent, be a recognition of the inconvenience experienced by the public at the present time due to inferiority of service, necessitated by shortage of materials and equipment, and war restrictions in general. " With regard to the period for non-billing of customers to be established, it is recommended that on the basis of the excess of earnings over cost in the various areas, this be one month in the Lower Mainland area and two months in all other areas served by the company, the details and application to be embodied in an order of the Commission." Free billing periods were ordered by the Commission in 1943, 1944, and 1945. By 1946 the war was ended and the abnormal conditions which were the justification for the unusual method of regulation by the free billing procedure were disappearing. While revenues remained high, indications were that cost of service was increasing very rapidly, and that the relationship of revenue to cost of service would not justify a free billing period in 1946. Free billing was therefore discontinued. Annual reports have been received from the companies, by means of which the original investigation data can be brought up to date, year by year. On April 16th, 1946, the Commission made an order providing for audits of these reports and assigned the Chief Engineer and retained the accounting firm of George A. Touche & Company to audit the reports for 1943, 1944, and 1945. The reports of Touche & Company were received on January 7th and 16th, 1947, and the report of the Chief Engineer on February 12th, 1947. Analyses of the reports, as audited, were immediately commenced in order to compare revenues with cost of service, with a view to determining future policy. Rate Changes filed pursuant to Section 16 of " Public Utilities Act." A complete statement of all rate changes filed during 1946 is shown in Table 7. Most of the changes are adjustments made to meet special circumstances and affecting a relatively small number of consumers. There has been no general increase in utility rates comparable to the general rise in prices of most commodities, although a few cities and small utilities found it necessary to make some increases. On the other hand, there have been a number of substantial reductions by telephone and electric utilities. Rate Complaints. The rate complaints dealt with during the year are summarized in Table 8. SECURITY ISSUES, MORTGAGES, AND SALES. Security Issues and Mortgages. Section 21 of the " Public Utilities Act " requires that no public utility shall issue any stocks or shares or any bonds, debentures, securities, or other evidence of indebted- REPORT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, 1946. H 13 ness payable in more than one year from the date thereof unless it has first obtained approval by the Commission of the proposed issue. Applications made under this section in 1946 and summaries of the findings of the Commission thereon are set out in Table 9. It will be noted from Table 9 that a very substantial refunding plan by the British Columbia Electric Railway Company, Limited, and associated companies has been authorized. Details of this refunding are set out in the following paragraphs. Refinancing of British Columbia Electric Railway Company, Limited, and Associated and Subsidiary Companies. By an order dated November 12th, 1946, and approved by Order in Council, No. 2718, the Commission approved a plan of refinancing of British Columbia Electric Railway Company, Limited, and associated and subsidiary companies. Under the plan, British Columbia Electric Power and Gas Company, Limited, a company subject to the " Public Utilities Act," was made the financing company in place of British Columbia Power Corporation, Limited, a company not subject to that Act. The subsidiaries of British Columbia Electric Power and Gas Company, Limited, transferred the title to their property and assets to that company to enable it to give a first mortgage on such assets as well as on the gas properties already owned by it. To provide further security for the new bond issue of British Columbia Electric Power and Gas Company, Limited, British Columbia Power Corporation, Limited, transferred to that company $5,000,000 of bonds and all the preferred and deferred ordinary stock of British Columbia Electric Railway Company, Limited. With the above-mentioned security, British Columbia Electric Power and Gas Company, Limited, after changing its name to British Columbia Electric Company, Limited, issued $33,000,000 of bonds to the public, bearing interest at 3% per cent. The Commission's approval specified that the bonds must be sold at a price of not less than $98 per $100. The intercorporate relationships of the British Columbia Electric group of companies were simplified by the elimination of $19,160,000 of bonds of subsidiaries previously held by British Columbia Power Corporation, Limited. Of the bonds of the group of companies in the hands of the public, the following were redeemed:— British Columbia Power Corporation 41/4-per cent. Series A $10,800,000 British Columbia Power Corporation 41/4-per cent. 1939 Series 4,210,000 British Columbia Power Corporation 4-per cent. 1945 Series 10,000,000 Vancouver Power 41/4-per cent, debenture stock,£l,500,000, say 7,290,000 $32,300,000 The annual saving in interest before tax, as a result of the refinancing, is estimated at $224,675. In addition, it is anticipated that the financial reorganization will enable the group of companies to obtain funds in the future, through public financing by British Columbia Electric Company, Limited, at a cheaper rate of interest than would otherwise be possible. The change in the relationship of the group of companies to the investing public is, briefly, that £1,500,000 of first mortgage bonds of Vancouver Power Company, Limited, and $25,010,000 of collateral bonds of British Columbia Power Corporation, Limited, are replaced by $33,000,000 of first mortgage bonds of British Columbia H 14 BRITISH COLUMBIA. Electric Company, Limited. The relationship of the investing public to the group of companies is unchanged in connection with the following securities which are still outstanding in the hands of the public, namely:— £2,788,170 of debenture stock of British Columbia Electric Railway Company, Limited. £1,440,000 of preference stock of British Columbia Electric Railway Company, Limited. $5,000,000 of preference shares of British Columbia Electric Power and Gas Company, Limited (now British Columbia Electric Company, Limited). $59,250,000 of shares of British Columbia Power Corporation, Limited. Sales of Assets of Public Utility Systems. Transfers of property by public utilities to the British Columbia Power Commission do not require the approval of the Public Utilities Commission and are therefore not recorded. The transfers dealt with by the Commission under section 23 of the " Public Utilities Act" are shown in Table 10. Table 10 shows a transfer of the title of assets to British Columbia Electric Power and Gas Company, Limited, by its subsidiaries. This was done in connection with a financing plan which is explained elsewhere in this report. It will be noted that a change from private to municipal operation has taken place at Kimberley, Lake Cowichan, and Maple Ridge, the privately operated utility systems having been acquired by purchase by the municipalities. REVENUE AND EXPENSES, 1940-46. A statement of revenue and expenses of the Public Utilities Commission under the " Public Utilities Act " and the " Motor Carrier Act " is set out in Table 11. The figures shown are for the calendar year and not the fiscal year, and figures for previous years have been included for comparative purposes. Revenue under the " Motor Carrier Act " has been compiled from monthly reports made by the Superintendent of Motor Carriers. Revenue under the " Public Utilities Act " represents fees on applications granted during the year, even though the fees may not have been transferred from Suspense Account to Revenue Account until the following year. The fees in connection with the refinancing of the British Columbia Electric Railway Company, Limited, and its associated and subsidiary companies, amounting to $55,642.50, were responsible for an abnormally large revenue under the " Public Utilities Act " for 1946. REPORT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, 1946. H 15 Table 1.— Applications for C REC1 TABLES. ; and Necessity ERTIFICATES OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE 5IVED OR DECIDED IN 1946. Class of Service. Applicant. Date of Application. Particulars. Result. Transportation... Electric power British Columbia Electric Railway Co., Ltd. Dec. 12, 1945 Sept. 26, 1946 Oct. 28, 1946 Apr. 24, 1946 Feb. 25, 1946 May 31, 1946 June 5, 1946 Aug. 3, 1946 Sept. 18, 1946 June 21, 1946 July 30, 1946 June 21, 1946 Mar. 30, 1946 Sept. 25, 1946 Oct. 22, 1945 June 21, 1946 Dec. 20, 1946 Oct. 19, 1946 Sept. 26, 1946 Feb. 4, 1946 Revision of Mt. Tolmie bus route, City of Victoria Approval of bus franchise in North Vancouver Approval of bus franchise in Richmond Ferry service on Howe Sound previously operated by Howe Sound Transport Initial stage of Bridge River power-development, providing for 62,000 horse-power Expansion of transmission, transforming, and distribution facilities in Lower Fraser Valley Construction of approximately 47.2 miles of new electric distribution-lines on Vancouver Island Enlargement of generating plant at Burns Lake Installation of electric power system at Clinton, replacing those previously operated by F. T. Boyd and Bruce Mc- Tavish Installation of electric power system at Houston Installation of electric power system at Lone Butte Operation of electric power system at Kimberley previously operated by Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co. of Canada, Ltd. Installation of electric power system at Masset Operation and extension of electric power system at Yale Operation of water system at Shawnigan Lake with larger capacity Operation of water system at Kimberley previously operated by Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co. of Canada, Ltd. Installation of waterworks system near Kinnaird Operation of water systems at Lake Cowichan previously operated by Stanley Gordon and Peter Olson Operation of water system at Campbell River previously operated by Campbell River Hotel and Resort Co., Ltd. Installation of new gas-manufacturing plant at Vancouver with capacity of 4,500,000 cu. ft. per day Granted; Jan. 11, 1946. Granted ; Sept. 30,1946. Granted; Nov. 1, 1946. Granted; May 17, 1946. Granted ; Mar. 25, 1946. Granted ; June 6, 1946. Granted ; July 9, 1946. Granted ; Aug. 7, 1946. Granted; Oct. 21, 1946. Granted ; Aug. 23, 1946. Granted ; Aug. 23, 1946. Granted ; July 24, 1946. Granted ; Apr. 9, 1946. Granted ; Dec. 18, 1946. Granted; Oct. 30, 1946. Granted ; July 24, 1946. Granted ; Jan. 27, 1947. Granted ; Nov. 28, 1946. Granted; Oct. 11, 1946. Granted; Feb. 13,1946. British Columbia Electric Railway Co., Ltd., and Bridge River Power Co., Ltd. British Columbia Electric Railway Co., Ltd. Burns Lake Electric Clinton Power and Light Co., Ltd. Kimberley, City of Miller, G Gas Kimberley, City of Lake Cowichan, Village of Willows Hotel Co., Ltd. British Columbia Electric Power and Gas Co., Ltd. - H 16 BRITISH COLUMBIA. Table 2.—Extensions dealt with under Section 12a of the " Public Utilities Act " during 1946. Class of Service. Public Utility. Number of Extensions. 6 British Columbia Electric Railway Co., Ltd., and associated companies 397 4 2 1 1 Gas British Columbia Electric Power and Gas Co., Ltd., and Vic- 1 General Utility Co., Ltd . 1 1 Total 414 Table 3.—Extension of Electric Distribution-lines of British Columbia Electric Railway Company, Limited, during 1946, permitted under Section 12a of the " Public Utilities Act." Municipality or District. Number of Extensions. Domestic and Farm. Commercial and Industrial. Total. Number of Customers to be served. Total Cost of Extensions (estimated). Total Distance of Extensions (Feet). Burnaby and North Burnaby. Chilliwack and Chilliwhack.. Coquitlam* Delta Dewdney Esquimalt Coldstream Highlands loco Kamloops, North and East... Kent Langley f Malahat Maple Ridge Matsqui Metchosin Mission New Westminster Nicomen ., North Saanich North Vancouver Pitt Meadows Port Coquitlam Richmond Saanich Shawnigan Sooke Sumas Surrey! Vancouver West Vancouver Yale Totals 18 12 8 6 4 7 2 1 1 5 3 49 1 14 20 5 4 10 14 13 8 19 78 11 2 1 19 13 8 6 4 7 2 1 1 5 3 49 1 14 38 8 14 1 5 8 20 5 4 11 15 13 8 19 78 11 2 1 389 394 100 149 65 41 41 15 6 10 1 138 7 447 3 98 264 26 63 1 17 17 104 56 11 55 26 61 34 51 371 276 43 1 $32 63 25 13 15 3 1 13 3: 137, 81, 81 17 20 3; 10 5 30 18 3 19 10: 14: 14: 22. 109 27 3. ,818.02 ,098.30 ,011.10 ,175.85 ,691.45 ,931.59 ,900.58 ,579.96 473.55 .253.79 ,409.55 ,976.39 783.94 ,167.85 ,700.85 ,504.91 ,765.95 .109.05 ,505.60 .561.79 ,673.16 ,932.60 .657.30 ,749.30 ,796.58 ,911.98 ,542.33 ,230.70 ,302.73 ,732.90 ,168.00 757.60 2,598 $766,875.25 30,797 110,955 50,707 26,653 34,413 .10,090 9,260 27,050 740 17,200 7,910 342,015 1,900 60,776 186,268 42,390 37,719 2,640 23,275 14,510 37,413 49,688 5,190 26,635 30,850 45,310 41,352 54,026 222,384 28,053 3,113 2,100 1,583,382 * Includes 2 extensions, serving 51 consumers, which extend into Port Coquitlam; shown under " Coquitlam " and not under " Port Coquitlam." t Includes 2 extensions, serving 70 consumers, which extend into Matsqui; shown under " Langley " and not under " Matsqui." t Includes 2 extensions, serving 25 consumers, which extend into Langley; shown under " Surrey " and not under " Langley." REPORT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, 1946. H 17 OS m % m EH m >t Ol w K EH O Z, m EH X H O EH ft 2 S . 2 S tn 01 s .a T3 fcj ! .2 ft o QJ « '« Ifflt, "3 S c ft 3^ « S 3 9 § . I LI'S : i g i .3 ft go S 5 •* B " (S ce " e ft ■*. 5 .„ Sh -h O 2 .S ° » c *o c H ft'3 » a S - _2 5 T. o a +> £ t? '3 n P- P § a; ti ti o ^ o ti X S Bi .h "H ■-■ R -S' S S 5 O p, M o '5 Is c S 5 -e . ft! 3 » fl) X s s 5 'S S8= cs w ce s o E ■§ o s O M "2 3.9 a s H I—I 0 SH p M P Ph H P C W M O EH O r-t CQ tn 3 a o a o © EH < Q 3 0 < 0 CQ <! •a S S «;« 0-2 c is 01 X O 01 a ci oi r- 55 o K S e s e -s s OJ ti0 •S| "«> E s > -s W S? E 0 0 fi 0 £ d d .0 s ° 'to -. E J 0 O P 'cS pi cj S tH J P c n o a 01 0 0 ii H 18 BRITISH COLUMBIA. 3 s ■so s o o ■<* C2 CQ m H CQ >t ta w K H Q Z H H !*! o iH m W Eh J CQ P m 03 P Q> S o iH o o o o H CQ o EH < ►J Oi < CQ 4 s 3 OJ ^ cu C •« C M * ■£ .~ oi a S 0 oj S 2 •" t fi s 1 ti c I 5 • Pi o 1 8 § m cj 3 o •s ^ * B S S fi * 3 rt 3 c > S4 a) to «h .2 o p. 4- | S o S c c S 5 Q> ES a ■i * h a +j OJ <-' Ol -fi g h -♦-> co cfl « o 5 ■H O fi CU tc cn . tu X tot £ rt fl >, h c £ — J-l E? £l P-2 bJ •2 -s 1 [fi fi ■? fl -u 3 « . « il 8 s.fc s | c § 8 fi S a £ 1 " S a 8 S « H 51 ,F- CU 1 ,§ "S X * fl « 0 +J Q <M H P B .< X c C £ 01 03 ft bfl ^ g o -c 3 9 fl fflp ta o fc o * ,g tn c 1 5 fi U .2 X fi a 1 01 ti 01 £ B g 1 +» X £ O ti, ti, fi '-P *Q P < *H .2 0 0 tj a ^3 .2 01 TJ to a a <J a cu rr 3 CJ CJ £ £ ■g F3 "cS ea 01 Ph 0 0 O *g fi c . fi c 0 o 0 0 oi o: S fi S c S cs a* ci cu £ ti ti Oi Oi fe ^Oh * a W W IS H ai ci H 04 t-t o »J +a 0 0 Xf r^ cd to o a CCJ o, o ffl M Pi < Ol a rt 3 g si O a 2 A » 5 O «w c5 d cfl rt o o O J 4J ,C 60 3 H3 fl rt . 43 h 3 tu s 2 > -S p o -w fc i O O 3 *3 I3 cu is REPORT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, 1946. H 19 Table 5.—Applications to discontinue or suspend Service, 1946. Applicant. Date of Application. Particulars. Disposition. Boyd, F. T Oct. 3, 1946 Oct. 3, 1946 Discontinuance of electric service at Clinton on installation of new system by Clinton Power and Light Co., Ltd. Discontinuance of electric service at Clinton on installation of new system by Clinton Power and Light Co., Ltd. McTa necessity cancelled Oct. 21, 1946. necessity cancelled Oct. 21, 1946. Table 6.—Complaints as to Service of Public Utilities, 1946. Public Utility. Complainant. Date of Complaint. Particulars. Disposition. Stuart, J. M May 1, 1946 trie Railway Co., Thirteenth Ave. W., Van pany to install corrective Ltd. couver devices. Hollingsworth, 0. Dec. 10, 1946 Voltage fluctuations at Deep Cove, V.I. Larger transformer installed ; cause of complaint rectified. Bradner, E. M., and others May 4, 1946 Board of Health and en gineer of Water Rights Branch arranged. Com pany directed to investi gate feasibility of settle ment-tanks as a solution. Feb. 5, 1946 Company required to resume service after reading of vice disconnected without due cause meter and payment of bill. Mar. 19, 1946 Temporary arrangements made to correct complaint gated Fruitlands, Ltd. pending major rehabilitation of system. General Utility Co., Department of Mar. 6, 1946 Complaint that leaky mains Condition improved follow Ltd. Public Works of company responsible for flooded basement of Court-house at Princeton ing remedial measures by both parties. Okanagan Telephone Paine, Dr. G. C. Mar. S, 1946 Refusal of company to list Listing arranged as desired. Co. residence under P.B.X. number July 8, 1946 More rigid control of sprinkling put into effect and Works Co., Ltd. others work commenced on in stallation of new storage- tanks and pipe. Table 7.—Rate Changes consented to pursuant to Section 16 of the " Public Utilities Act," 1946. (a) Transportation Systems. Name of Public Utility. Route affected. Effect of Change. Date filed. Date effective. Howe Sound Transport Ferry across Howe Sound Seat reservation system put into effect Increase in street-car fares.. Increased rates for trucks, live stock, and freight Mar. 13, 1946 July 26, 1946 June 20, 1946, following public hearing at Vancouver Mar. 13, 1946. Sept. 1, 1946. North Vancouver, City of.. Ferry between Vancouver and North Vancouver July 1, 1946. H 20 BRITISH COLUMBIA. Table 7.—Rate Changes consented to pursuant to Section 16 of the " Public Utilities Act," 1946—Continued. (b) Telephone and Telegraph Systems. Name of Public Utility. Area affected. Effect of Change. Date filed. Date effective. North-West Telephone Co. May 31, 1946 July 1, 1946. July 1, 1946. Vancouver to Prince Rupert, Substitution of land circuit May 31, 1946 Quesnel, and Hazelton for radio link Vancouver Island South Reduction of ship-to-shore rates, involving estimated reduction in revenue of $1,000 per year Nov. 19, 1946 Nov. 21, 1946. Okanagan Telephone Co.... Area between Kelowna and Vernon Revision of foreign-exchange tariff, resulting in increased long-d i s t a n c e charges to certain users Aug. 12, 1946 Aug. 12, 1946. (c) Electric Power Systems. May 2, 1946 May 2 1946. and Improvement Co. Iished and new rates for street-lighting, etc., pre scribed British Columbia Electric Parksville - Qualicum - Dash- Rate established for 3-phase Jan. 5, 1946 Dec. 16, 1945. Railway Co., Ltd. wood area, Vancouver Island power service Vancouver and Lower Main New lower rates for elec May 16, 1946 June 1, 1946. land tric steel-making and iron- ore reducing furnaces Provincial Mental Hospital, Rate reduction, involving May 28, 1946 Apr. 1, 1946. Essondale loss of revenue of approximately $3,995 per year Vancouver and Lower Main Temporary flat rates, where July 23, 1946 July 1, 1946. land meters not obtainable Vancouver Island Temporary flat rates, where Sept. 7, 1946 1, 1946. meters not obtainable Oct. 10, 1946 1 1946. tinued for residential con sumers Victoria and vicinity Rate revision for large com Oct. 11, 1946 Oct. 1, 1946. mercial users, involving reduction of $1,154 in an nual revenue Nov Canadian Food Products, Ltd. Canadian Utilities, Ltd Fort St. John General reduction July 9, 1946 1, 1946. General revision, involving reduction in domestic rates Aug. 12, 1946 Aug. Northland Utilities (B.C.), Dawson Creek and Pouce General rate reduction, in Feb. 11, 1946 Feb., 1946. Ltd. Coupe volving reduction of revenue of approximately $5,000 per year Jan 18 1946 June 1 1945 and Light Co., Ltd. rate established REPORT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, 1946. H 21 Table 7.—Rate Changes consented to pursuant to Section 16 of the " Public Utilities Act," 1946—Continued. (d) Waterivorks Systems. Name of Public Utility. Area affected. Effect of Change. Date filed. Date effective. Irrigation rates for April, 1946, remitted May 1, 1946 Apr., 1946. and Improvement Co. Increase in rates of approximately 10 per cent. June 25, 1946 July 1, 1946. Connection charges and security deposits established Sept. 25, 1946 Oct. 1, 1946. Creston, Village of Area adjacent to Creston Increase of connection charge from $3 to $10 Mar. 8, 1946 Mar. 8, 1946. Reduced rate to cemetery July 22, 1946 July 15, 1946. Waterworks Co., Ltd. Kamloops Fruitland Irri Rural area served by com Increase of 50 per cent, in Feb. 23, 1946 Mar. 1, 1946. gation and Power Co., pany near Kamloops rates, with consent of Ltd. users, to provide funds for rehabilitation of system Quesnel Light & Water Area adjacent to Quesnel Revision to eliminate dis May 1, 1946 May 1, 1946. Co., Ltd. crimination affecting six customers Trail, City of May 7, 1946 May 7, 1946. from $5 to $15 Victoria, City of Area adjacent to Victoria.... Rules established to state conditions on which mains will be extended Mar. 21, 1946 Mar. 21, 1946. Rules established to state Apr. 11, 1946 Apr. 11, 1946. conditions on which mains will be extended (e) Gas Systems. British Columbia Electric Victoria and Vancouver and Suspension of gas space- Aug. 30, 1946 Aug. 30, 1946. Power and Gas Co., Ltd. district heating rates for eight months because of temporary shortage of gas- production capacity Elimination of security deposits for domestic ac Oct. 21, 1946 Oct. 1, 1946. counts Vancouver and district Elimination of security deposits for domestic accounts Oct. 8, 1946 Oct. 1, 1946. H 22 BRITISH COLUMBIA. Table 8 .—Rate Complaints, 1946. Public Utility. Complainant. Date of Complaint. Particulars. Disposition. British Columbia Electric Cato, J. L Jan. 5, 1946 Complaint that free bill Free billing found to have Railway Co., Ltd. ing given in wrong month been given correctly. Gregory, H. A Dec. 12, 1945 Refund of part of revenue deficit payment on connection of new customers to extension Company's tariff found to have been properly applied. Pearse, T.. Dec. 1, 1945 charge for water fied, and adjustment made. Okanagan Telephone Co.... O'Neill, J. A. W.... Oct. 14, 1946 Complaint as to overtiming on long-distance calls Investigation did not disclose any defects in company's methods. Affleck, B Jan. 5, 1946 and Light Co., Ltd. rates made inadvertently on general rate revision in 1945. Old rate reinstated and adjustment made. Tjibbes, T July 13, 1946 commercial rate for domestic rate and adjust bunk-house on farm at ment of bill made. Grand Forks Table 9.—Applications by Public Utilities for Approval of Security Issues and Mortgages received or decided in 1946. Applicant. Nature and Amount of Issue. Purpose. Date of Application. Disposition. British Columbia Electric 750,000 Class A shares Satisfaction of debts owing to Oct. 24, 1946 Granted ; Nov. 12, Power and Gas Co., Ltd. and 750,000 Class B shares British Columbia Power Corporation, Ltd., in connection with financial reorganization incidental to new bond issue 1946. British Columbia Electric $33,000,000 of 3 ^-per Refunding...: Oct. 24, 1946 Granted ; Nov. 12, Power and Gas Co., Ltd. cent, first mortgage bonds 1946. British Columbia Electric Extension of maturity Maturity date made to coincide Oct. 24, 1946 Granted; Oct. 31, Railway Co., Ltd. date of 4-per-cent. general mortgage bonds with that of other bonds for which British Columbia Electric Railway Co.'s bonds are held as security 1946. Clinton Power and Light 500 shares of par Purchase and installation of Oct. 9, 1946 Granted; Oct. 21, Co., Ltd. value of $50 each electric power system at Clinton 1946. Sea Bus Lines, Ltd 10,000 shares of par Acquisition of ferry across Apr. 24, 1946 Granted ; May 17, value of $1 each Howe Sound 1946. White Rock Water Works $30,000 of first mort Additions to waterworks sys Apr. 26, 1946 Granted; June 17, Co., Ltd. gage 4-per-cent. bonds. tem at White Rock 1946. REPORT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, 1946. H 23 Table 10.—Applications for Approval of Sales of Assets of Public Utility Systems received or decided in 1946. Applicant. Transferee. Property sold or transferred. Date of Application. Disposition. Bridge River Power Co., British Columbia Elec Oct. 24, 1946 Nov. 12, Ltd. tric Power and Gas Co., Ltd. 1946. British Columbia Electric Power and Gas Oct. 24, 1946 Granted 1946. Nov. 12, Co., Ltd. Campbell River Hotel and Willows Hotel Co., Ltd. Waterworks system at Camp Oct. 8, 1946 Granted Oct. 11, Resort Co., Ltd. bell River 1946. June 5, 1946 July 24, Smelting Co. of Canada, works systems at Kimberley 1946. Ltd. Gordon, Stanley, estate of.. Village of Lake Cow Waterworks system at Lake Nov. 1, 1946 Granted Nov. 15, ichan Cowichan 1946. Howe Sound Transport Sea Bus Lines, Ltd Assets connected with ferry Apr. 24, 1946 Granted May 17, (Ballantine and Frith) across Howe Sound 1946. Nylen, Eric G. Miller Electric power system at Yale... Oct. 11, 1946 Granted 1946. Dec. 18, Olson, Peter Village of Lake Cow Waterworks system at Lake Nov. 2, 1946 Granted Nov. 15, ichan Cowichan 1946. District of Maple Sept. 7, 1946 Sept. 12, Ridge Ridge Municipality 1946. British Columbia Electric Power and Gas Oct. 24, 1946 Granted 1946. Nov. 12, Co., Ltd. Co., Ltd. British Columbia Electric Power and Gas Oct. 24, 1946 Granted 1946. Nov. 12, Co., Ltd. British Columbia Electric Power and Gas Oct. 24, 1946 Granted 1946. Nov. 12, Co., Ltd. British Columbia Electric Power and Gas Oct. 24, 1946 Granted 1946. Nov. 12, Canada, Ltd. Co., Ltd. West Kootenay Power and The Consolidated Min Corra Linn, Upper Bonning- July 11, 1946 Not proceeded Light Co., Ltd. ing and Smelting ton, and South Slocan power with by appli- Co. of Canada, Ltd. plants cant. Table 11.—Comparative Statement Act " and " Motor of Revenue and Expenses (" Public Utilities Carrier Act "), 1940 to 1946. Revenue. Expenses. - " Motor Carrier Act." " Public Utilities Act." 1940 .... $149,038.19 171,170.06 175,945.67 173,714.09 183,524.00 211,777.09 328,080.08 $69,229.50 67,952.13 68,956.02 63,274.33 70,555.02 78,002.08 111,984.66 $45,388.62 1941 43,935.09 1942 .... , 42,481.88 1943 40,724.35 1944 44,613.41 1945 47,649.45 1946 48,715.34 $1,392,249.18 $529,953.74 $313,508.14 Net revenue over expense, 1940 to 1946, $548,787.30. VICTORIA, B.C. : Printed by Don McDiarmid, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty. 1947. 465-847-5175
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PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Eighth Annual Report OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION Pursuant to Section… British Columbia. Legislative Assembly [1948]
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Title | PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Eighth Annual Report OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION Pursuant to Section 64 of the "Public Utilities Act" For the Year ended December 31st, 1946 |
Alternate Title | REPORT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, 1946. |
Creator |
British Columbia. Legislative Assembly |
Publisher | Victoria, BC : Government Printer |
Date Issued | [1948] |
Genre |
Legislative proceedings |
Type |
Text |
FileFormat | application/pdf |
Language | English |
Identifier | J110.L5 S7 1948_V01_09_H1_H23 |
Collection |
Sessional Papers of the Province of British Columbia |
Source | Original Format: Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Library. Sessional Papers of the Province of British Columbia |
Date Available | 2016 |
Provider | Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library |
Rights | Images provided for research and reference use only. For permission to publish, copy or otherwise distribute these images please contact the Legislative Library of British Columbia |
CatalogueRecord | http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=1198198 |
DOI | 10.14288/1.0339913 |
AggregatedSourceRepository | CONTENTdm |
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