Orders

Decision Information

Decision Content

BRITISH COL UMBIA UTILITIES COM MISSION ORDER NUMBER G -140-05 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 A Submission by Terasen Gas (Whistler) Inc. for Review of its of 2005 Resource Plan Update and An Application by Terasen Gas (Whistler) Inc. for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to convert its propane grid system to natural gas and approval to enter into a Natural Gas Transportation Service Agreement with Terasen Gas (Vancouver Island) Inc. and An Application by Terasen Gas (Vancouver Island) Inc. for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for a natural gas pipeline lateral from Squamish to Whistler BEFORE: A.J. Pullman, Panel Chair and Commissioner R. Milbourne, Commissioner P.E. Vivian, Commissioner December 16, 2005 O R D E R WHEREAS: A. On December 12, 2005, Terasen Gas (Whistler) Inc. (“TGW”) filed with the Commission its 2005 Resource Plan Update (“the Resource Plan”) that provides an assessment of the current and future energy requirements at the Resort Municipality of Whistler (“RMOW”) and concludes that the existing propane grid system should be converted to natural gas; and B. On December 16, 2005, TGW filed with the Commission its application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (“CPCN”) to convert its system to natural gas and for approval to enter into a long-term natural gas transportation agreement with Terasen Gas (Vancouver Island) Inc. (“TGVI”). In the application, TGW also requests approval to make a capital contribution to TGVI and to add the contribution to rate base, to amortize the net book value of the propane facilities and to recover pipeline study costs incurred prior to 2004 (“the TGW Application”); and …/2
BRITISH COLUMBIA UTILITIES COMMISSION ORDER NUMBER G-140-05 2 C. Also, on December 16, 2005, TGVI filed with the Commission its application for a CPCN for construction of a natural gas pipeline lateral to connect RMOW to the TGVI transmission system at Squamish and to enter into a Transportation Service Agreement with TGW (“the TGVI Application”). The Resource Plan Application, the TGW Application and the TGVI Application will be referred to collectively as the Applications”; and D. In the submission, TGW and TGVI request that the Commission review the Applications concurrently through a joint proceeding. TGW recommends a written review process and proposes a regulatory timetable; and E. The Commission considers that a Procedural Conference is required to hear submissions on the regulatory process for review of the Applications. NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows: 1. A Procedural Conference regarding the regulatory process for the review of the Applications will be held on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 commencing at 1:00 p.m. on the Second Floor of 855 Homer Street in Vancouver, to address procedural matters which include, but may not be limited to, the following: identification of the principal issues arising from or related to the Applications; scope of the Commissions review of the Applications; whether Intervenors intend to file evidence; whether a written or oral hearing is to be held to examine the filed material and the respective location; steps and timetable associated with the regulatory review process; and other matters that will assist the Commission to efficiently review the Applications. 2. After the Procedural Conference the Commission will issue a further procedural Order and Regulatory Agenda. 3. TGW and TGVI will publish in display-ad format, the Notice of Procedural Conference attached as Appendix A to this Order, in the Vancouver Sun, Province and the Victoria Times Colonist and such other news publications so as to provide sufficient coverage in the affected service areas of TGW and TGVI, including Whistler and Squamish. 4. The Applications, together with any supporting materials, will be made available for inspection in Terasen Gas Whistler, Squamish, Victoria and Surrey offices and at the Commissions office in Vancouver, BC. 5. Intervenors and Interested Parties should register with the Commission, in writing, by Friday, January 13, 2006 and advise whether they will attend the Procedural Conference. Intervenors should specifically state the nature of their interest in the Applications and identify generally the nature of the issues that they intend to pursue during the proceeding and the nature and extent of their anticipated involvement in the review process. …/3
3 6. In review of the Applications, Commission Information Request No. 1 will be issued on Friday, December 23, 2005 and TGW and TGVI will respond to Commission Information Request No. 1 by Wednesday, January 11, 2006. DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 16 Attachment Orders/TGW-TGVI_Whistler Pipeline Project Ntc Procedural Conference BRITISH COLUMBIA UTILITIES COMMISSION ORDER NUMBER G-140-05 th day of December 2005. BY ORDER Original signed by: A.J. Pullman Panel Chair and Commissioner
APPENDIX A to Order No. G-140-05 Page 1 of 2 SIXTH FLOOR, 900 HOWE STREET, BOX 250 TELEPHONE: (604) 660-4700 VANCOUVER, B.C. V6Z 2N3 CANADA BC TOLL FREE: 1-800-663-1385 FACSIMILE: (604) 660-1102 web site: http://www.bcuc.com A Submission by Terasen Gas (Whistler) Inc. for Review of its of 2005 Resource Plan Update and An Application by Terasen Gas (Whistler) Inc. for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to convert its propane grid system to natural gas and approval to enter into a Natural Gas Transportation Service Agreement with Terasen Gas (Vancouver Island) Inc. and An Application by Terasen Gas (Vancouver Island) Inc. for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for a natural gas pipeline lateral from Squamish to Whistler NOTICE OF PROCEDURAL CONFERENCE Date: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 Time: 1:00 p.m. Location: Second Floor Hearing Room 855 Homer Street Vancouver, B.C. THE APPLICATIONS On December 12, 2005, Terasen Gas (Whistler) Inc. (“TGW”) filed with the Commission its 2005 Resource Plan Update (“the Resource Plan”) that provides an assessment of the current and future energy requirements at Resort Municipality of Whistler (“RMOW”) and concludes that the existing propane grid system should be converted to natural gas. On December 16, 2005, TGW filed with the Commission its application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (“CPCN”) to convert its system to natural gas and for approval to enter into a long term natural gas transportation agreement with Terasen Gas (Vancouver Island) Inc. (“TGVI”). In the application, TGW also requests approval to make a capital contribution to TGVI and to add the contribution to rate base, to amortize the net book value of the propane facilities and to recover pipeline study costs incurred prior to 2004 (“the TGW Application”). Also, on December 16, 2005, TGVI filed with the Commission its application for a CPCN for construction of a natural gas pipeline lateral to connect RMOW to the TGVI transmission system at Squamish and to enter into a Transportation Service Agreement with TGW (the TGVI Application”). The Resource Plan Application, the TGW Application and the TGVI Application will be referred to collectively as the Applications”.
APPENDIX A to Order No. G-140-05 Page 2 of 2 THE REGULATORY PROCESS The Commission will hold a Procedural Conference regarding the regulatory process for the review of the Applications commencing at 1:00 p.m., on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 855 Homer Street, Second Floor Hearing Room in Vancouver, BC. Following the Procedural Conference, the Commission will issue a further procedural Order and Regulatory Agenda to registered parties. PUBLIC INSPECTION OF THE DOCUMENTS The Applications and supporting material will be made available for inspection at Terasen Gas offices in Whistler, Squamish, Surrey, Victoria and the British Columbia Utilities Commission office: Sixth Floor, 900 Howe Street, Vancouver, B.C., V6Z 2N3. The Applications will be available for viewing on Terasen Gas Inc.’s website at www.terasengas.com. INTERVENTIONS Persons who expect to actively participate in the proceeding should register as Intervenors with the Commission, in writing, by Friday, January 13, 2006, identifying their interest in the Applications and indicating whether they plan to attend the Procedural Conference. Intervenors should identify the issues that they intend to pursue and the nature and extent of their anticipated involvement in the review process. Intervenors will each receive a copy of the Applications and all correspondence and filed documentation and should provide an e-mail address if available. Persons not expecting to actively participate, but who have an interest in the proceeding should register as Interested Parties with the Commission, in writing, by Friday, January 13, 2006, identifying their interest in the Application and indicating whether they plan to attend the Procedural Conference. Interested Parties will receive a copy of the Executive Summary from the Applications, and all Orders and Decisions issued. FURTHER INFORMATION For further information, please contact Mr. Robert J. Pellatt, Commission Secretary, or Mr. Robert Brownell, Senior Commodities Analyst, 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
 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.