B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A U T I L I T IE S C O M M I S S I O N O R D E R a N U M B E R G-124-97 SIXTH FLOOR, 900 HOWE STREET, BOX 250 TELEPHONE: (604) 660-4700 VANCOUVER, B.C. V6Z 2N3 BC TOLL FREE: 1-800-663-1385 CANADA FACSIMILE: (604) 660-1102 IN THE MATTER OF the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473 and An Application by Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. for Approval of a 1998 Rate Increase and a Performance Based Rate Plan to Determine Revenue Requirements for the Years 1999-2002 and its 1998 Rate Design Study BEFORE: L.R. Barr, Deputy Chair ) and Acting Chair ) K.L. Hall, Commissioner ) December 4, 1997 P.G. Bradley, Commissioner ) O R D E R WHEREAS: A. The Commission, by Order No.ÊG-74-97, directed Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. ("PNG") to file a Cost of Service/Rate Design Study; and B. On November 28, 1997 PNG filed the 1998 Cost of Service Allocation / Rate Design Study (the Ò1998ÊStudyÓ); and C. On November 28, 1997, PNG also filed with the Commission, a 1998-2002 Performance Based Rates (ÒPBRÓ) Revenue Requirements Application (Òthe ApplicationÓ), pursuant to SectionsÊ91 and 58 of the Utilities Commission Act, for approval to increase its gas rates on an interim and final basis, effective January 1, 1998 and to implement a Performance Based Rates Proposal for the 1999 to 2002 fiscal periods; and D. PNG has requested that the Application and 1998 Study be dealt with through the process established in the Negotiated Settlement Process, Policy, Procedures and Guidelines issued by the Commission; and E. The Commission has reviewed the PNG Application and is satisfied that approval of an interim rate increase is necessary; and F. The Commission, in its desire to deal efficiently with issues related to the Application and the 1998 Study, requires that an initial timetable and process for dealing with the issues be established. NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows: 1. The Commission approves for PNG the interim rate increase of 6.89Êpercent. 2. PNG is to inform all affected customers of the interim increase in rates effective January 1, 1998 by way of a customer notice. . . ./2
B R IT I S H C O LU M B I A U T IL I T I E S C O M M I S S I O N O R D E R N U M B E R G-124-97 2 3. The Commission will hold a Pre-Hearing Conference on PNG's Application and 1998 Study on Wednesday, January 7, 1998 commencing at 9:00 a.m. in the Commission Hearing Room, 6thÊFloor, 900ÊHowe Street, Vancouver, B.C. The Pre-Hearing Conference will address procedural matters which will include, but not be limited to, the following: ¥ scheduling, ¥ completeness of the Application, ¥ identification of principal issues, ¥ process (workshops, information requests, settlement negotiations, public hearings), ¥ location(s) of the hearing, and ¥ other matters that will enable the proceeding to efficiently cover and review all aspects of the Application and the 1998 Study. 4. PNG will publish, in display-ad format, the attached Notice of Pre-Hearing Conference in the business sections of the Vancouver Sun, the Province, and in all local community newspapers in its service areas by December 12, 1997. 5. PNG is to provide a copy of this Order, by facsimile if possible, to all Intervenors and Interested Parties registered in the 1996 PNG Revenue Requirements Application, as well as all Industrial Customers, as soon as possible. 6. Intervenors and Interested Parties who would like to receive a copy of the Application and/or the 1998 Study should immediately request a copy from PNG and inform the Commission, in writing by DecemberÊ22, 1997, of their intention to intervene and/or to attend the Pre-Hearing Conference. 7. Following the results of the Pre-Hearing Conference, the Commission will issue an Order and a Regulatory Timetable outlining further steps to be followed in the review of the Application and 1998 Study. DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this ÊÊÊ4thÊÊÊday of December, 1997. BY ORDER Original signed by: Lorna R. Barr Deputy Chair and Acting Chair Attachment Order/PNG-COS & Rate Dsgn Study
APPENDIX A to Commission Order No. G-124-97 Page 1 of 2 a SIXTH FLOOR, 900 HOWE STREET, BOX 250 VANCOUVER, B.C. CANADA V6Z 2N3 TELEPHONE: (604) 660-4700 ROBERT J. PELLATT BC TOLL FREE: 1-800-663-1385 COMMISSION SECRETARY FACSIMILE: (604) 660-1102 NOTICE OF PRE-HEARING CONFERENCE PACIFIC NORTHERN GAS LTD. Application for Approval of a 1998 Rate Increase and a Performance Based Rate Plan to Determine Revenue Requirements for the Years 1999-2002 and its 1998 Rate Design Study Date: Wednesday, January 7, 1998 Time: 9:00 a.m. Locations: Commission Hearing Room 6th Floor, 900 Howe Street Vancouver, B.C. THE APPLICATION On November 28, 1997, pursuant to SectionsÊ91 and 58 of the Utilities Commission Act, PNG applied to the Commission for approval to increase its gas rates on an interim and final basis, effective January 1, 1998 and to implement a Performance Based Rates proposal for the 1999 to 2002 fiscal periods ("the Application"); and On November 28, 1997 PNG filed the 1998 Cost of Service / Rate Design Study (the Ò1998 StudyÓ) required by Commission Order No. G-74-96; and PNG has requested that the Application be dealt with through the process established in the Negotiated Settlement Process, Policy, Procedures and Guidelines issued by the Commission. THE REGULATORY PROCESS The Commission will hold a Pre-Hearing Conference in Vancouver on Wednesday, January 7, 1998 to discuss procedural matters which will include, but not be limited to, the following: ¥ scheduling, ¥ completeness of the Application, ¥ identification of principal issues, ¥ process (workshops, information requests, settlement negotiations, public hearing), ¥ location(s) of the hearings; and ¥ other matters that will enable the proceeding to efficiently cover and review all aspects of the Application. . . ./2
APPEND to Commission Order No. G-Page PUBLIC INSPECTION OF THE APPLICATION Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. Head Office: Suite 1400, 1185 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6E 4G6 District Offices: Vanderhoof, Burns Lake, Houston, Smithers, Terrace, Kitimat and Prince Rupert, B.C. An Executive Summary of the Application is available to Interested Parties upon request from PNG at no charge. Copies of the Application and supporting material are also available for inspection at the office of the British Columbia Utilities Commission, Sixth Floor, 900 Howe Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2N3. INTERVENTIONS Intervenors and Interested Parties who would like to receive a copy of the Application should immediately request a copy from PNG and inform the Commission, in writing, by December 22, 1997, of their intention to become Intervenors or Interested Parties, and/or attend the Pre-Hearing Conference. Registered Intervenors who actively participate in the review process will receive copies of all correspondence and filed documentation. Interested Parties who register with the Commission will receive a copy of the ApplicationÕs Executive Summary, all Orders issued, as well as the CommissionÕs Decision. PARTICIPANT ASSISTANCE All parties intending to apply for Participant Assistance and who wish to attend the Pre-Hearing Conference must do so consistent with the Commission's Policy and Rate Sheet as outlined in Order No. G-103-96. Copies of the Participant Assistance Policy and Rate Sheet will be sent to all parties registering with the Commission. CLARIFICATION Persons intending to participate in the PNG Pre-Hearing Conference, and who are uncertain as to the manner in which to proceed, may contact Mr. Robert J. Pellatt, Commission Secretary, the Information Services Group or Mr. Barry McKinlay, Manager, Rates and Finance as follows: Telephone: (604) 660-4700 E-Mail: bcuc@pop.gov.bc.ca Facsimile: (604) 660-1102 Telephone: (B.C. Toll Free) 1-800-663-1385 BY ORDER Original signed by: Robert J. Pellatt Order/PNG-COS & Rate Dsgn Study
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