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 E R N U M B ER G-20-02 SIXTH FLOOR, 900 HOWE STREET, BOX 250 TELEPHONE: (604) 660-4700 VANCOUVER, B.C. V6Z 2N3 CANADA BC TOLL FREE: 1-800-663-1385 web site: http://www.bcuc.com FACSIMILE: (604) 660-1102 IN THE MATTER OF the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473 and Applications by Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. and Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. (Fort St. John\Dawson Creek, and Tumbler Ridge Divisions) for Approval of 2002 Rate Increases BEFORE: P. Ostergaard, Chair ) N.F. Nicholls, Commissioner ) March 28, 2002 P.G. Bradley, Commissioner ) O R D E R WHEREAS: A. By Order No. G-127-01 dated November 22, 2001, the Commission directed that Methanex Corporation’s (“Methanex”) September 28, 2001 application for a load retention rate would be reviewed coincident with Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.’s (“PNG”) 2002 Revenue Requirements Application. That Order made PNG’s rates to Methanex interim effective October 1, 2001; and B. On November 30, 2001, PNG and Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. (Fort St. John\Dawson Creek and Tumbler Ridge Divisions) [“PNG (N.E.)”] filed for approval its 2002 Revenue Requirements Applications (“the Applications”) to increase its rates on an interim and final basis, effective January 1, 2002, pursuant to Sections 91 and 58 of the Utilities Commission Act (“the Act”); and C. On December 13, 2001 the Commission, by Order No. G-132-01, established a Pre-hearing Conference on the Applications for January 8, 2002, and scheduled the commencement date for an oral public hearing into the PNG Application for March 6, 2002 in Terrace, B.C.; and D. The Pre-hearing Conference took place in Vancouver on January 8, 2002, and an oral public hearing on the PNG Application was held in Terrace, B.C. on March 6, 7, and 8, 2002, and completed in Vancouver on March 11, 2002; and E. At the conclusion of the oral public hearing, the Commission set a timetable for final argument commencing with the filing of final argument by PNG and Methanex on Thursday, March 28, 2002; and …/2
2 F. PNG and Methanex have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement made as of the 20 2002, to terminate their existing agreements for firm transportation and interruptible gas sales service and to replace those agreements with a new agreement effective November 1, 2002. The new agreement, if approved, would result in the withdrawal of the Methanex load retention rate application; and G. Having regard to the impact of the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement upon the Application presently before the Commission, PNG applied to the Commission on March 27, 2002 to postpone the filing of final argument to a date to be set by the Commission, and to fix a date for an oral hearing of the revised application, and to approve a revised hearing and argument schedule; and H. PNG’s March 27, 2002 application also explains the revisions to the 2002 Revenue Requirements Application that are required to reflect the terms of the implementation of the new agreement contemplated under the Memorandum of Agreement effective November 1, 2002; and I. The Commission has reviewed PNG’s March 27, 2002 application and considers that an amendment to the regulatory timetable is necessary. NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows: 1. Postponement of the filing of final argument to a date to be fixed by the Commission is hereby granted. 2. By Tuesday, April 2, 2002, Intervenors are to advise the Commission, in writing, whether they consent to PNG filing the revised application and their position on PNG’s proposed timetable. DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 28 B R I T I SH C O L U M B IA U T I L I T IE S C O M M I SS I O N O R D ER N U M B E R G-20-02 th day of March, th day of March 2002. BY ORDER Original signed by: Peter Ostergaard Chair
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.