BR I T I S H COL U M BI A U TI LI TI E S COM M I SSI ON OR D E R NUM B E R G -71-05 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 An Application by Stargas Utilities Ltd. for Approval to Alter Rates, Make Additional Deferrals, Levy Administrative Charges and Establish a Gas Cost Variance Account BEFORE: L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner August 3, 2005 L.A. Boychuk, Commissioner O R D E R WHEREAS: A. The Commission, by Order No. C-4-00, approved a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for Stargas Utilities Ltd. (“Stargas”, “the Company”) to operate a natural gas distribution system at the resort community of Silver Star; and B. On October 22, 2004, Stargas filed an Application to decrease rates, defer and amortize a gas supply take or pay penalty and make additional administrative levies; and C. On January 4, 2005, the Company proposed to withdraw the Application and to re-file after its May 31, 2005 fiscal year end; and D. On January 5, 2005, Stargas revised its Application to make the current rates interim effective January 1, 2005; and E. On July 13, 2005, Stargas applied for Commission approval to increase residential rates by seven cents per gigajoule (“GJ”); decrease commercial rates by 11 cents per GJ; defer and amortize a gas supply penalty of approximately $42,000; levy administrative recoveries of 2.5 percent for customers paying bills by credit or debit cards; and charge new customers an additional fee of 10 percent of the cost of installing a new service; and F. On July 19, 2005 the Company filed an addendum requesting the approval of a Gas Cost Variance Account effective May 31, 2005 with a starting credit balance of $15,139 (“the Application”); and G. The Commission finds that a Regulatory Agenda for a written public hearing is required to be established. …/2
2 NOW THEREFORE pursuant to Sections 58, 60 and 61 of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission orders as follows: 1. The Stargas Application will be examined in a written public hearing process and the Regulatory Timetable, attached as Appendix A, has been established. 2. The Application and supporting material will be made available for inspection at various Silver Star Resort centres and at the British Columbia Utilities Commission, Sixth Floor, 900 Howe Street, Vancouver, B.C., V6Z 2N3. 3. Stargas shall provide a copy of this Order, by facsimile if possible, to all previous Intervenors and Interested Parties no later than Friday, August 12, 2005. Stargas shall also post a copy of this Order in various Silver Star Resort centres. 4. Stargas is to provide a copy of the Public Notice attached as Appendix B to this Order to all of its customers by Friday, August 12, 2005. 5. Intervenors and Interested Parties should inform the Commission in writing or register on-line via the Commission’s website at http://www.bcuc.com, by Wednesday, August 24, 2005 of their intention to actively intervene in the proceeding, or become Interested Parties. Registered Intervenors will receive from Stargas copies of the Application, all correspondence and filed documentation. Interested Parties will receive copies of all Orders issued. DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 5 Attachment Stargas_Tariff & Rate Amndmnts-GVCA - Ntc Wtrn Hrg BR I T I S H COL U M BI A UTI LI TI E S COMM I SSI ON OR D E R NUM B E R G-71-05 th day of August 2005. BY ORDER Original signed by: L.F. Kelsey Commissioner
SIXTH FLOOR, 900 HOWE STREET, BOX 250 VANCOUVER, B.C. V6Z 2N3 CANADA web site: http://www.bcuc.com Stargas Utilities Ltd. Application for Approval to Alter Rates, Make Additional Deferrals, Levy Administrative Charges and Establish a Gas Cost Variance Account REGULATORY TIMETABLE ACTION Stargas to distribute a copy of this Order Registration of Intervenors and Interested Parties Filing of BCUC and Intervenor Information Requests Stargas Responses to Information Requests Intervenor Written Submissions to the BCUC and Stargas Stargas Reply to Written Submissions APPENDIX A to Order No. G-71-05 Page 1 of 1 TELEPHONE: (604) 660-4700 BC TOLL FREE: 1-800-663-1385 FACSIMILE: (604) 660-1102 DATES 2005 Friday, August 12, 2005 Wednesday, August 24, 2005 Friday, August 26, 2005 Friday, September 9, 2005 Friday, September 23, 2005 Friday, September 30, 2005
APPENDIX B to Order No. G-71-05 Page 1 of 1 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 STARGAS UTILITIES LTD. Application for Approval to Alter Rates, Make Additional Deferrals, Levy Administrative Charges and Establish a Gas Cost Variance Account NOTICE OF WRITTEN PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS THE APPLICATION On July 13, 2005 Stargas Utilities Ltd. (“Stargas”, “the Company”) applied for Commission approval to increase residential rates by seven cents per gigajoule (“GJ”); decrease commercial rates by 11 cents per GJ; defer and amortize a gas supply penalty of approximately $42,000; levy administrative recoveries of 2.5 percent for customers paying bills by credit or debit cards and charge an additional fee of 10 percent of the cost of installing a new service. On July 19, 2005 the Company filed an addendum requesting the approval of a Gas Cost Variance Account to be effective May 31, 2005 with a starting credit balance of $15,139 (“the Application”). THE REGULATORY PROCESS The Commission has established a Written Public Hearing Process for the review of the Application. PUBLIC INSPECTION OF THE DOCUMENTS The Application and supporting material will be made available for inspection at various Silver Star Resort centres and at the British Columbia Utilities Commission, Sixth Floor, 900 Howe Street, Vancouver, B.C., V6Z 2N3. REGISTERING TO PARTICIPATE Unless they have already registered, persons who expect to actively participate in the Stargas proceeding should register as Intervenors with the Commission, in writing, by Wednesday, August 24, 2005. Intervenors will receive copies of the Application, all correspondence and filed documentation. Persons not expecting to actively participate, but who have an interest in the Stargas proceeding should register as Interested Parties with the Commission, in writing, by Wednesday, August 24, 2005. Interested Parties will receive a copy of the Application’s Executive Summary and all Orders issued. FURTHER INFORMATION For further information, please contact Mr. Robert J. Pellatt, Commission Secretary 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
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