B R I T I S H C O L U M B IA U T I L I T I E S C O M M I S S I O N a O R D E R N U M B E R G-118-98 SIXTH FLOOR, 900 HOWE STREET, BOX 250 VANCOUVER, B.C. V6Z 2N3 CANADA TELEPHONE: (604) 660-4700 web site: http://www.bcuc.com BC TOLL FREE: 1-800-663-1385 FACSIMILE: (604) 660-1102 IN THE MATTER OF the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473 and An Application by Centra Gas Fort St. John Inc. for Approval of a 1999 Rate Increase and 1998 Cost of Service Allocation/Rate Design Study BEFORE: P. Ostergaard, Chair ) L.R. Barr, Deputy Chair ) K.L. Hall, Commissioner ) December 17, 1998 F.C. Leighton, Commissioner ) P.G. Bradley, Commissioner ) O R D E R WHEREAS: A. On November 4, 1998, Centra Gas Fort St. John Inc. (“Centra FSJ”), filed a 1998 Cost of Service Allocation/Rate Design Study; and B. On December 3, 1998 Centra FSJ filed a 1999 Revenue Requirements Application ("the Application"), pursuant to Sections 91 and 58 of the Utilities Commission Act, for approval to increase its rates on an interim and final basis, effective January 1, 1999; and C. On December 16, 1998 Centra FSJ filed revisions to the Application revising its rates calculation for the SIS 9 and SIS 10 customer categories; and D. The Application as filed and revised would result in rate increases of 13.13 percent for residential and small general sales customers, 21.62 percent to large general sales customers and 39.29 percent to small industrial sales customers, based upon Centra FSJ’s forecast of gas prices in 1999; and E. The Commission requested Centra FSJ to provide an alternative gas cost calculation based upon current forward market prices for 1999; and
B R I T I SH C O L U M B IA U T I L I T I E S C O M M I S S I O N O R D E R 2 N U M B E R G-118-98 F. Centra FSJ provided calculations indicating rate increases of 9.76 percent for residential customers and small general sales customers, 17.32 percent to large general sales customers and 18.30 percent to small industrial sales customers, based upon the December 7, 1998 forward gas price for 1999; and G. The Commission has reviewed the Centra FSJ Application and is satisfied that approval of an interim rate increase is necessary; and H. The Commission requires that a timetable and process for dealing with the final 1999 revenue requirements application and cost of service allocation/rate design study be established. NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows: 1. The Commission approves for Centra FSJ an interim rate increase effective January 1, 1999, including gas cost changes that are based upon a December 7, 1998 forward market price for natural gas as previously provided by Centra FSJ. 2. Centra FSJ is to inform all affected customers of the interim increase in rates by way of a customer notice, to be submitted in draft to the Commission for prior approval. 3. The Commission will hold a Pre-Hearing Conference on Centra FSJ's Revenue Requirements Application and Cost of Service Allocation/Rate Design Study (“the Applications”), on Friday, January 15, 1999 commencing at 9:00 a.m. (10:00 a.m. in Dawson Creek) with video conferencing facilities in Vancouver, Terrace and Dawson Creek. The Pre-Hearing Conference will address procedural matters which will include, but not be limited to, the following: • scheduling, • completeness of the Applications, • identification of principal issues, • process (workshops, information requests, settlement negotiations or public hearings), • location(s) of the proceedings, and • other matters that will enable the proceeding to efficiently cover and review all aspects of the Applications.
B R I T I S H C O L U M B IA U T IL I T I E S C O M M I S S I O N O R D ER 3 N U M B E R G-118-98 4. Centra FSJ will publish, in display-ad format, the attached Notice of Pre-Hearing Conference in the Vancouver Sun, the Province, and in community newspapers in its service areas by December 31, 1998. 5. Centra FSJ is to provide a copy of this Order, by facsimile if possible, to all Intervenors and Interested Parties registered in the 1996/1997 Revenue Requirements and Rate Design Application, as well as all Large Industrial Customers, as soon as possible. 6. Intervenors and Interested Parties should inform the Commission, in writing, by January 8, 1999, 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 to registered intervenors outlining further steps to be followed in the review of the Applications. DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 23rd day of December, 1998. BY ORDER Original signed by: P. Ostergaard Chair Attachment Order/CG FSJ-1999 Rate Incr COS & RD
APPENDIX A to Order No. G-118-98 Page 1 of 2 a SIXTH FLOOR, 900 HOWE STREET, BOX 250 ROBERT J. PELLATT VANCOUVER, B.C. CANADA V6Z 2N3 COMMISSION SECRETARY TELEPHONE: (604) 660-4700 Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com BC TOLL FREE: 1-800-663-1385 web site: http://www.bcuc.com FACSIMILE: (604) 660-1102 NOTICE OF PRE-HEARING CONFERENCE PACIFIC NORTHERN GAS LTD. PACIFIC NORTHERN GAS (N.E.) LTD - TUMBLER RIDGE DIVISION PACIFIC NORTHERN GAS (N.E.) LTD - DAWSON CREEK DIVISION CENTRA GAS FORT ST. JOHN INC. Application for Approval of a 1999 Revenue Requirements Application and 1998 Fort St. John/Dawson Creek Cost of Service Allocation/Rate Design Study Date: Friday, January 15, 1999 Time: 9:00 am (10:00 a.m. in Dawson Creek) Locations: Department of Fisheries & Oceans Offices 555 West Hastings Street – Room 455 Vancouver, B.C. with video-conferencing links to : North Coast Regional Correspondence School 3211 Kenney Street Terrace, B.C. V8G 3E9 Community Skills Centre 1105 103 rd Avenue Dawson Creek, B.C. V1G 2G8 THE APPLICATIONS On November 4, 1998 PNG (N.E.) - Dawson Creek Division and Centra FSJ filed their 1998 Cost of Service Allocation/Rate Design Study. On December 1, 1998 PNG, PNG (N.E.) and Centra FSJ applied to the Commission for approval to increase rates on an interim and final basis, effective January 1, 1999. PNG has requested that the Applications be dealt with through the B.C. Utilities Commission’s Negotiated Settlement Process. THE REGULATORY PROCESS The Commission will hold a Pre-Hearing Conference in Vancouver, Terrace and Dawson Creek via video-conferencing facilities, on Friday, January 15, 1999 to discuss procedural matters which will include, but not be limited to, the following: .../2
APPENDIX A to Order No. G-118-98 Page 2 of 2 • scheduling, • completeness of the Applications, • identification of principal issues, • process (workshops, information requests, settlement negotiations or public hearing), • location(s) of the proceedings; and • other matters that will enable the proceeding to efficiently cover and review all aspects of the Applications. PUBLIC INSPECTION OF THE APPLICATIONS 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, Dawson Creek, Tumbler Ridge and Fort St. John. An Executive Summary of the Applications is available to Interested Parties upon request from the Applicants at no charge. British Columbia Utilities Commission: Sixth Floor, 900 Howe Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2N3. INTERVENTIONS Intervenors and Interested Parties should inform the Commission in writing, by January 8, 1999, 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 the Application and all correspondence and filed documentation. Interested Parties who register with the Commission will receive a copy of the Application’s Executive Summary, all Orders issued, as well as the Commission’s Decision. PARTICIPANT ASSISTANCE All parties intending to apply for Participant Assistance must submit a budget estimate by January 22, 1999 consistent with the Commission's Participant Assistance/Cost Award Guidelines as outlined in Order No. G-97-98. Copies of these Guidelines are available upon request. FURTHER INFORMATION For further information, please contact Mr. Robert J. Pellatt, Commission Secretary, or Mr. Barry McKinlay, Manager, Rates and Finance as follows: Telephone: (604) 660-4700 E-Mail: Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com Facsimile: (604) 660-1102 Telephone: (B.C. Toll Free) 1-800-663-1385 BY ORDER Original signed by: Robert J. Pellatt
You are being directed to the most recent version of the statute which may not be the version considered at the time of the judgment.