B R I T IS H C O LU M B I A U T I L 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-2-02 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 An Application by BC Gas Utility Ltd. for the Disposition of Property and Approval of Customer Care Agreements BEFORE: P. Ostergaard, Chair ) K.L. Hall, Commissioner ) January 10, 2002 N.F. Nicholls, Commissioner ) O R D E R WHEREAS: A. On December 21 2001, BC Gas Utility Ltd. (“BC Gas”) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (“the Commission”) for approval for the disposition of its partially-completed Program Mercury and other customer care related assets to BC Gas Inc., pursuant to an Asset Transfer Agreement; and B. BC Gas Inc. would transfer those assets to a limited partnership between itself and Enbridge Inc. (“CustomerWorks”), which would perform customer care services including call handling, billing, metering, payment processing, and credit and collection; and C. BC Gas also requests approval of two agreements with CustomerWorks: a Client Services Agreement for the provision of customer care services, and a Shared Services Agreement for the provision of corporate support services; and D. BC Gas seeks such approvals effective December 31, 2001 but states that, pending any Commission determination, it will complete only those parts of the transaction that can be unwound; and E. Prior to the Application, the Commission obtained the services of Douglas Louth Associates Inc. to carry out a formal review of BC Gas’ plans, and to assist the Utility with negotiation, drafting and finalization of the Agreements; and F. On January 8, 2002, Douglas Louth Associates Inc. provided its Report on the review; and …/2
B R I T IS 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-2-02 2 G. The Commission has reviewed the Application and the Report and finds that the scheduling of a Workshop and written public hearing is required. NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows: 1. The Commission will hold a Workshop on the Customer Care Application on Tuesday, January 29, 2002, commencing at 9:00 a.m. in the BC Gas meeting facilities, BC Gas Centre, 1111 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, B.C. 2. BC Gas will arrange for publication of the Notice of Workshop and Written Public Hearing, attached as Appendix A to this Order, as soon as possible in the Vancouver Sun and Province and in the appropriate local news publications in the service areas of the Utility, so as to provide adequate notice to the public. 3. At the Workshop, BC Gas is to provide participants with a detailed review of the Customer Care Application and Douglas Louth Associates Inc. will make a presentation on its Report. 4. A copy of this Order and Notice is to be faxed by BC Gas to all parties who received a copy of the Customer Care Application from BC Gas and to those parties registered in the 2002 Revenue Requirements proceeding. 5. Intervenors and Interested Parties should inform the Commission in writing, by Monday, January 28, 2002 of their intention to become Intervenors or Interested Parties, and/or attend the Workshop. DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 10th day of January 2002. BY ORDER Original signed by: Peter Ostergaard Chair Attachment Orders/BCG-Customer Care
APPENDIX A to Order No. G-2-02 Page 1 of 2 TELEPHONE: (604) 660-4700 SIXTH FLOOR, 900 HOWE STREET, BOX 250 BC TOLL FREE: 1-800-663-1385 VANCOUVER, B.C. V6Z 2N3 CANADA FACSIMILE: (604) 660-1102 web site: http://www.bcuc.com NOTICE OF WORKSHOP AND WRITTEN PUBLIC HEARING BC GAS UTILITY LTD. Application for Disposition of Property and Approval of Customer Care Agreements Date: Tuesday, January 29, 2002 Time: 9:00 a.m. Location: BC Gas Meeting Facilities BC Gas Centre 1111 West Georgia Street Vancouver, B.C. THE APPLICATION BC Gas Utility Ltd. (“BC Gas”) has applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (“the Commission”) for approval for the disposition of its partially completed customer information system (Program Mercury) and other customer care related assets to BC Gas Inc. pursuant to an Asset Transfer Agreement. BC Gas Inc. would transfer those assets to a limited partnership with Enbridge Inc. (“CustomerWorks”), which would perform customer care services including call handling, billing, metering, payment processing, and credit and collection. BC Gas also requests approval of two agreements with CustomerWorks: a Client Services Agreement for the provision of customer care services, and a Shared Services Agreement for the provision of corporate support services. The Commission wishes to ensure that affected parties have an opportunity to understand the Customer Care Application and its implications for customer rates. THE REGULATORY PROCESS The Commission will hold a Workshop at the BC Gas offices in Vancouver on Tuesday, January 29, 2002. BC Gas is to provide participants with a detailed review of the Customer Care Application and Douglas Louth Associates Inc., who carried out a formal review of BC Gas’ plans on behalf of the Commission, will present its Report. REGISTERING TO PARTICIPATE Persons who expect to attend the Workshop and actively participate in the written hearing process should register as Intervenors with the Commission. Intervenors will receive copies of the Application, all correspondence and filed documents. …/2
APPENDIX A to Order No. G-2-02 Page 2 of 2 Persons not expecting to actively participate should register with the Commission as Interested Parties and will receive a copy of the Application’s summary, all Orders issued, as well as the Commission’s Decision. Intervenors and Interested Parties should inform the Commission Secretary, in writing, by Monday, January 28, 2002 of their intentions. INFORMATION REQUESTS Intervenors requesting additional information from BC Gas should submit their requests to BC Gas, with a copy to the Commission Secretary and other Intervenors, by Friday, February 8, 2002. BC Gas must respond to these information requests by Friday, February 15, 2002. INTERVENOR SUBMISSIONS Intervenors must file copies of their submissions concerning the Customer Care Application with the Commission Secretary and BC Gas by Friday, February 22, 2002. REPLY BC Gas must reply to the written submissions by Tuesday, February 26, 2002. The Commission will make its determination after this date. PUBLIC INSPECTION OF THE APPLICATION The Application is available for inspection at the following locations: BC Gas Utility Ltd. B.C. Utilities Commission 12 th Floor, 1111 West Georgia Street Sixth Floor, 900 Howe Street Vancouver, B.C. V6E 4M4 Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2N3 Telephone: (604) 443-6500 Telephone: (604) 660-4700 FURTHER INFORMATION If you intend to participate and are uncertain how to proceed, please contact Mr. Robert J. Pellatt, Commission Secretary or Mr. Barry McKinlay, Manager, Rates and Finance, as follows: Telephone: (604) 660-4700 B.C. Toll Free: 1-800-663-1385 Facsimile: (604) 660-1102 E-mail: commission.secretary@bcuc.com
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