B R IT I S H C O LU M B I A U T I L IT I E S C O M M I S S I O N O R D E R N U M B ER G-2-96 SIXTH FLOOR, 900 HOWE STREET, BOX 250 TELEPHONE: (604) 660-4700 VANCOUVER, B.C. V6Z 2N3 a BC TOLL FREE: 1-800-663-1385 CANADA FACSIMILE: (604) 660-1102 IN THE MATTER OF the Utilities Commission Act, S.B.C. 1980, c. 60, as amended and An Application by Centra Gas Fort St. John Inc. for Approval of 1996 and 1997 Revenue Requirements and Rate Design BEFORE: M.K. Jaccard, Chairperson; and ) L.R. Barr, Deputy Chairperson ) January 18, 1996 O R D E R WHEREAS: A. On DecemberÊ20, 1995 Centra Gas Fort St. John Inc. ("Centra Gas") applied to the Commission by letter, and on JanuaryÊ8, 1996 the utility filed its detailed application, to amend rates on an interim and permanent basis to customers, effective JanuaryÊ1, 1996 for the test period 1996 to 1997 ("the Application"), pursuant to SectionsÊ64 andÊ104 of the Utilities Commission Act ("the Act"); and B. The Application requested the existing rate structure be declared as interim, effective JanuaryÊ1, 1996, submitting that the utility's net revenue deficiency of $201,852 equivalent to a 1.1Êpercent or $0.0378/GJ average increase for the test period, be recovered through rates effective MayÊ1, 1996. Centra Gas proposed that these rates, by customer classes, will be contained in its rate design evidence that will be filed in early 1996; and C. Centra Gas proposes an increase in the common equity component of its capital structure from 30Êpercent to 35Êpercent, and will file evidence by FebruaryÊ14, 1996; and D. The Commission has reviewed the Application and is satisfied that declaring the current rates as interim effective JanuaryÊ1, 1996 and the setting out of a time schedule to deal with the Application is appropriate and in the public interest. NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders Centra Gas as follows: 1. The Commission approves for Centra Gas the setting of its existing rate structure as interim effective JanuaryÊ1, 1996. Should a rate reduction be required following a public hearing and Commission Decision, such rate reduction will be subject to refund with interest calculated at the average prime rate of the principal bank with which Centra Gas conducts its business. Centra Gas is to file amended Gas Tariff Rate Schedules and inform its customers by way of bill stuffer in a timely fashion. 2. The Commission issues the following timetable in the review of the Centra Gas Application. Action Date Staff Information Requests sent to Centra Gas February 26, 1996 Centra Gas responses to Staff Information Requests March 18, 1996 Pre-Hearing Conference to discuss the Application March 26, 1996 Intervenor/Other Information Requests sent to Centra Gas April 1, 1996
B R I T IS H C O LU M B I A U T I L IT I E S C O M M IS S I ON O R D ER 2 N U M B ER G-2-96 Action Date Responses by Centra Gas to Information Requests April 15, 1996 Written submissions by Intervenors April 24, 1996 Oral Public Hearing May 6 - 10, 1996 3. A Pre-Hearing Conference is scheduled for MarchÊ26, 1996 at 9:00 a.m. at the Pioneer Inn, 9830Ê- 100th Avenue, Fort St. John, B.C. to discuss the Application. A public hearing into the Application will commence at 9:00 a.m., MayÊ6, 1996 at the same venue. 4. The Application and supporting material are to be made available for inspection at the following locations: Head Office: Centra Gas British Columbia Inc. 1675 Douglas Street Victoria, B.C. V8W 3V3 District Office: Centra Gas Fort St. John Inc. 10016 - 104th Street Fort St. John, B.C. V1J 6L1 BCUC: British Columbia Utilities Commission 600 - 900 Howe Street Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2N3 5. Centra Gas is to distribute copies of the Application, Commission Order No.ÊG-2-96 and any supplemental information to Intervenors as they become registered with the Commission. Centra Gas is to distribute a copy of the Executive Summary and Order No.ÊG-2-96 to Interested Parties. 6. Centra Gas will arrange for publication, in display-ad format, the Notice of Public Hearing in the business sections of the Vancouver Sun, the Province newspapers, and other appropriate news publications in the service area of the utility, so as to provide adequate notice to the public, not later than FebruaryÊ1, 1996. 7. Centra Gas is to file with the Commission, not later than FebruaryÊ14, 1996, financial and rate design evidence and any additional prepared testimony and supplemental material upon which it intends to rely. 8. Not later than AprilÊ1, 1996, Intervenors intending to be present and participate in the public hearing, are to give written notice of intention to do so to the Commission Secretary and to the Applicant. Such notice should state the nature of interest in the proceeding. 9. All parties intending to apply for Participant Funding must file a budget by AprilÊ1, 1996. The budget must be consistent with the Commission's Policy and Rate Sheet as outlined in Order No.ÊG-117-93. Copies of the Participant Funding Policy and Rate Sheet are available upon request. DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this ÊÊÊÊ26thÊÊÊÊday of January, 1996. BY ORDER Original signed by Dr.ÊMark K. Jaccard Attachment Chairperson
SIXTH FLOOR, 900 HOWE STREET, BOX 250 TELEPHONE: (604) 660-4700 VANCOUVER, B.C. V6Z 2N3 a BC TOLL FREE: 1-800-663-1385 CANADA FACSIMILE: (604) 660-1102 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CENTRA GAS FORT ST. JOHN INC. 1996 and 1997 REVENUE REQUIREMENTS and RATE DESIGN APPLICATION Public Hearing: Pre-Hearing Conference: Date: Monday, May 6, 1996 Date: Tuesday, March 26, 1996 Time: 9:00 a.m. Time: 9:00 a.m. Location: Pioneer Inn Location: Pioneer Inn 9830 - 100th Avenue 9830 - 100th Avenue Fort St. John, B.C. Fort St. John, B.C. THE APPLICATION Centra Gas Fort St. John Inc. (Centra Gas") has applied to the Commission for approval of its 1996 and 1997 Revenue Requirements by way of requesting that its present rates be interim effective JanuaryÊ1, 1996. The Commission, by Order No.ÊG-2-96, approved Centra Gas' rates to be interim and subject to refund with interest following a public hearing. Centra Gas has also applied for changes in its rate structure and the equity component in its capital structureÊ("the Application"). A public hearing into the Application is set down to commence Monday, MayÊ6, 1996 at the Pioneer Inn, 9830 - 100th Avenue, Fort St. John, British Columbia. PUBLIC INSPECTION OF THE APPLICATION The Application and supporting material are available for inspection at the following locations: Head Office Centra Gas British Columbia Inc. 1675 Douglas Street Victoria, B.C. V8W 3V3 District Office Centra Gas Fort St. John Inc. 10016 - 104th Street Fort St. John, B.C. V1J 6L1 BCUC British Columbia Utilities Commission 600 - 900 Howe Street Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2N3 PRE-HEARING CONFERENCE A Pre-Hearing Conference will take place on MarchÊ26, 1996 at a location as set out above. .../2
2 INTERVENTIONS AND INFORMATION REQUESTS Intervenors who wish copies of the Application and supporting material are urged to register with the Commission and Centra Gas as soon as possible but no later than April 1, 1996. Information Requests made to Centra Gas should be submitted by AprilÊ1, 1996 for the utility's response by AprilÊ15, 1996. Centra Gas is to provide Commission Order No.ÊG-2-96 and the Application documents to Intervenors upon registration and the Order and Executive Summary to Interested Parties. SUBMISSIONS BY INTERVENORS Written evidence and submissions from Intervenors are required to be filed, one copy each, with the Commission Secretary and Centra Gas, by AprilÊ24, 1996. PARTICIPANT FUNDING All parties intending to apply for Participant Funding must first register with the Commission and obtain the new guidelines for participant funding. All parties must then file a budget by April 1, 1996 consistent with the Commission's Rate Sheet as outlined in Order No.ÊG-117-93. CLARIFICATION Persons intending to participate in the proceedings and who are uncertain as to the manner in which to proceed, may contact Mr. R. J. Pellatt, Commission Secretary or Mr.ÊPhilip Nakoneshny, Senior Financial Analyst - Petroleum; by telephone at (604) 660-4700, or B.C. Toll Free: 1-800-663-1385, or in writing to the above address or by fax at (604) 660-1102. The Commission can also be reached on the Government Electronic Mail System ("GEMS") and on the Internet at bcuc@pop.bcinet.gov.bc.ca . BY ORDER Original signed by: Robert J. Pellatt Commission Secretary
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