BRITISH COL UMBIA UTILITIES COM MISSION ORDER NUMBER F -19-07 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 for Participant Assistance/Cost Award Funding in an Application by British Columbia Transmission Corporation for Approval of a Transmission System Capital Plan F2008 to F2017 BEFORE: R.H. Hobbs, Chair L.A. O’Hara, Commissioner September 26, 2007 O R D E R WHEREAS: A. On May 10, 2007, the Independent Power Producers Association of British Columbia (“IPPBC”) submitted an application for Participant/Cost Award (“PACA”) funding for its participation in the proceeding (the “Proceeding”) to review the application by British Columbia Transmission Corporation (“BCTC”) for approval of its Transmission System Capital Plan F2008 to F2017 (the “BCTC Application”); and B. On May 28, 2007, the British Columbia Public Interest Advocacy Centre submitted an application for PACA funding on behalf of the British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (“BCOAPO”) for their participation in the Proceeding; and C. The Commission, by Decision and Order No. G-69-07 dated June 15, 2007, responded to the BCTC Application; and D. By letter dated July 31, 2007, BCTC stated it finds that the PACA applications are generally consistent with the PACA Guidelines and that it does not advocate that the Commission adjust the cost awards applied for in the Proceeding; and . . ./2
2 E. The Commission Panel has reviewed the PACA applications with regard to the criteria and rates set out in the Guidelines in Commission Order No. G-15-04 and has concluded that, after changing the amount of funding requested for the Reasons for Decision that are set out in Appendix A to this Order, certain cost awards should be approved for participants in the Proceeding. NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows: 1. Pursuant to Section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission awards funds to the following for their participation in the Proceeding: Application IPPBC $16,575.80 BCOAPO $5,967.50 TOTAL $22,543.30 2. BCTC is directed to reimburse the above noted participants for the total amounts awarded in a timely manner. DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 3rd day of October 2007. Attachment Orders/F-19-07_BCTC-2008-2017 TSCP Awards BRITISH COLUMBIA UTILITIES COMMISSION ORDER NUMBER F-19-07 Award $13,978.80 $5,967.50 $19,946.30 BY ORDER Original signed by Robert H. Hobbs Chair
APPENDIX A to Order No. F-19-07 Page 1 of 2 British Columbia Transmission Corporation Application for Approval of a Transmission System Capital Plan F2008 to F2017 Participant Assistance/Cost Award Applications REASONS FOR DECISION 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Commission issued its Decision and Order No. G-69-07 dated June 15, 2007 in response to the British Columbia Transmission Corporation (“BCTC”) Application for approval of its Transmission System Capital Plan F2008 to F2017 (“F2008 Capital Plan”). Section 118 of the Utilities Commission Act provides that the Commission Panel may make cost awards for participation in a proceeding. The Commission’s Participant Assistance/Cost Award (“PACA”) Guidelines that were in effect at the time of the F2008 Capital Plan Application, are set out in Appendix A to Order No. G-15-04, and state: “In determining an award of all or any portion of a Participant’s costs, the Commission panel will consider the following: i. Does the Participant represent a substantial interest in the proceeding and will the Participant be affected by the outcome? ii. Has the Participant contributed to a better understanding of the issues by the Commission? iii. Are the costs incurred by the Participant for the purposes of participating in the proceeding fair and reasonable? iv. Has the Participant joined with other groups with similar interests to reduce costs? v. Any other matters appropriate in the circumstances. If the Commission panel considers it to be an appropriate consideration in a proceeding, the Commission panel may consider the Participant’s ability to participate in the proceeding without an award.” 2.0 PACA APPLICATIONS AND BCTC COMMENTS
APPENDIX A to Order No. F-19-07 Page 2 of 2 The Commission received PACA applications from the Independent Power Producers Association of British Columbia (“IPPBC”) dated May 10, 2007 and the British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (“BCOAPO”) dated May 28, 2007. By letter dated July 31, 2007, BCTC stated it finds that the PACA applications are generally consistent with the PACA Guidelines and that it does not advocate that the Commission adjust the cost awards applied for in the Proceeding. 3.0 COMMISSION DETERMINATION The Commission Panel determines that the IPPBC application for $16,575.80 should be reduced, and awards the IPPBC the amount of $13,978.80. The Commission Panel considers that the consultant Mr. Weimer’s contribution to the proceeding was more consistent with that of a case manager than a consultant and warrants a reduced award at a rate based on a per diem of $500 rather than the requested per diem of $1,200. IPPBC requested funding of $4,452.00 with respect to Mr. Weimer, and the Commission approves the following: 3.5 days * $500.00 per day * 1.06 (GST) = $1,855.00 The BCOAPO is awarded the amount of $5,967.50 requested in their application.
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