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 ON a O R D E R N U M B E R G-4-98 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 BC Gas Utility Ltd. Customer Complaint into Rates Charged by the Utility BEFORE: K.L. Hall, Commissioner ) F.C. Leighton, Commissioner ) January 8, 1998 O R D E R WHEREAS: A. On September 5, 1997, a Prince George customer of BC Gas Utility Ltd. ("BC Gas") complained to the Commission that the utility was charging municipal franchise fees on gas appliance financing payments; and B. On September 29, 1997, BC Gas responded to the complaint advising that the appliance financing plan, identified as a Promotional Incentive ("PI"), was initiated in the 1980's and will terminate in 1999. Repayments of the PI are included as a surcharge on residential Rate Schedule 1 rates and are subject to a franchise fee; and C. In 1990, the Commission required BC Gas to separate the franchise fee component paid by customers who were situated in municipalities so that customers outside of town boundaries were not required to pay those fees; and D. The Commission, in its review of the Prince George complaint, noted that franchise fees are to be collected only on gas consumed by customers within municipal boundaries; and E. The Commission has reviewed the complaint and finds that a decision is required. NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders BC Gas to collect franchise fees for the sale and delivery of gas within municipal boundaries, and not for other services, from its customers in Prince George, effective February 1, 1998. DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 9th day of January, 1998. BY ORDER Original signed by: Kenneth L. Hall Commissioner Order/BCG-CstmrCmplt Frnchise Fees
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