B R IT I S H C O L U M B I A U T IL I T IE S C O M M I S S I O N O R D E R N U M B E R F-8-00 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 Applications for Participant Assistance Cost Awards by Intervenors Regarding the West Kootenay Power Ltd. Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity Application for the 230 kV Kootenay System Development Project BEFORE: P. Ostergaard, Chair ) P.G. Bradley, Commissioner ) July 6, 2000 B. Clemenhagen, Commissioner ) K.L. Hall, Commissioner ) O R D E R WHEREAS: A. On March 1, 2000, Mr. Norman Gabana applied for a participant assistance cost award in the amount of $189.20 for his participation in the West Kootenay Power Ltd. (“WKP”) 230 kV Kootenay System Develoment Project proceedings; and B. On March 1 and 27, 2000, the Concerned Citizens Group of South Slocan, Shoreacres, Glade, Tarrys and Thrums (“the Concerned Citizens Group”) applied for a participant assistance cost award in the amount of $9,031.50 for its participation in the WKP 230 kV Kootenay System Develoment Project proceedings; and C. On April 25 and May 19, 2000, the Regional Districts of Central Kootenay and Kootenay Boundary (“the Regional Districts”) applied for a participant assistance cost award in the amount of $49,121.94 for their participation in the WKP 230 kV Kootenay System Develoment Project proceedings; and D. On June 8, 2000, Atco Lumber Ltd. applied for a participant assistance cost award in the amount of $13,994.41 for its participation in the WKP 230 kV Kootenay System Develoment Project proceedings; and . . ./2
2 E. On June 14, 2000, the British Columbia Public Interest Advocacy Center (“BCPIAC”) on behalf of the Consumers’ Association of Canada (B.C. Branch) et al. (“CAC (BC) et. al”) applied for a participant assistance cost award in the amount of $32,649.61 for its participation in the WKP 230 kV Kootenay System Develoment Project proceedings; and F. The Commission has discussed these applications having regard to the criteria and rates stated in the Participant Assistance/Cost Award Guidelines attached as Appendix A No. G-97-98. NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows: 1. Pursuant to Section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission, for the reasons set out in Appendix A to this Order, awards funds as set out below for participation in the WKP 230 kV Kootenay System Development Project proceedings: The Concerned Citizens Group CAC(BC) Atco Lumber Ltd. 2. The participant assistance cost award application by Mr. Norm Gabana, is denied for the reasons stated in Appendix A. 3. The participant assistance cost award application by the Regional Districts is denied for the reasons stated in Appendix A. 4. WKP is directed to reimburse these parties for the total amount awarded in a timely fashion. DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 20 Attachment Order/WKP 230kV KSD PACA AwardsB R I T IS H C O L U M B I A U T IL I T I E S C O M M I S S I ON O R D E R N U M B ER F-8-00 to Commission Order $3,781.50 $24,441.61 $13,994.41 th day of July 2000. BY ORDER Original signed by: Peter Ostergaard Chair
APPENDIX A to Order No. F-8-00 Page 1 of 1 West Kootenay Power Ltd. Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity Application for the 230 kV Kootenay System Development Project REASONS FOR DECISION The WKP 230 kV Kootenay System Develoment Project Panel evaluated the Participant Assistance/Cost Awards applications with regard to the criteria and rates set out in Commission Order No. G-97-98 and has determined the following. With regard to the application from Mr. Norman Gabana, the Panel denies the claim for a cost award. The Panel does not believe it is prudent to order payment of the expenses of individuals who are not full participants or who could have joined with other participants to have their views expressed. With regard to the application for participant assistance from the Regional Districts, the Panel denies their application as Section 114 of the Utilities Commission Act gives local governments the statutory authority to raise funds for their participation. Section 114(2) states that: “ ( 2 ) If a municipality believes that the interests of the public in the municipality or a part of it are sufficiently concerned, the municipality may, by resolution, become an applicant, complainant or intervenant in a matter within the commission's jurisdiction.” The willingness of local governments to fund their participation without a Participant Assistance/Cost Award is evidenced by Resolution 79-00, which the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary passed to authorize the expenditure of money to cover costs of its participation. With regard to the application from the Concerned Citizens Group, the Panel denies the amount claimed for foregone wages for preparation days as foregone wages for preparation days are not provided for under the Commission Guidelines for Participant Assistance/Cost Awards, and approves the remainder of the amount requested. With regard to the application from CAC (BC) et al., the Panel denies six days of preparation time based on CAC (BC)’s limited contribution during the second portion of the public hearing from March 13 to 16, 2000, and approves the remainder of the amount requested. With regard to the application from Atco Lumber Ltd., the Panel approves the amount requested.
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