LETTER NO. L-22-08 SIXTH FLOOR, 900 HOWE STREET, BOX 250 ERICA M. HAMILTON VANCOUVER, B.C. CANADA V6Z 2N3 COMMISSION SECRETARY TELEPHONE: (604) 660-4700 Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com BC TOLL FREE: 1-800-663-1385 web site: http://www.bcuc.com FACSIMILE: (604) 660-1102 Log No 24467 VIA E-MAIL mvalcourt@bigwhite.com darmohray@pushormitchell.com May 29, 2008 Mr. Maurice Valcourt Vice President Utilities Big White Gas Utility PO Box 2434, Station R Kelowna, B.C. V1X 4K5 Dear Mr. Valcourt: Re: Big White Gas Utility Ltd. (“BWGU”) Request for Extension of Filing of Amended 2006 Revenue Requirements BWGU in its letter dated March 7, 2008 requests an extension for the filing of its amended 2006 Revenue Requirements Application (“2006 RRA”) on the basis of four conditions. The Commission has reviewed BWGU’s request. The Commission asks BWGU 1) to withdraw its 2006 RRA and 2) request that the Commission rescind Order No. G-174-06, in part, for the requirement for an amended 2006 RRA since the fiscal year has passed a year ago. The delay occurred due to the owners of BWGU attempting to sell the utility to prospective purchasers though no sale has yet materialized. Please provide a response within five business days of the date of this letter. Upon receipt of a letter of BWGU’s withdrawal of its 2006 RRA and request to rescind Order No. G-174-06, in part, for the filing of an amended 2006 RRA, the Commission would rescind the directives in Order No. G-174-06 for BWGU to file its amended 2006 RRA and the 2007 Revenue Requirements Application. Also, the Commission can make permanent the rates that were made interim on January 1, 2007 by Order No. G-174-06. The interim rates made effective January 1, 2007 were actually the existing rates prior to the interim rates. Since no rate changes actually occurred, the ratepayers would not be prejudiced when the rates are made permanent. BWGU indicates that it will continue to operate under its approved tariff and rates that were pre-existing before the filing of the 2006 Revenue Requirements. If BWGU files with the Commission by September 30, 2008 a financial forecast for the June 1, 2008 to May 31, 2009 fiscal year that demonstrates the current rates are …/2
2 reasonable then BWGU would not be required to file for its 2008 Revenue Requirements (June 1, 2008 to May 31, 2009). However, the Commission plans to direct BWGU to file by no later than April 30, 2009 its 2009 Revenue Requirements (June 1, 2009 to May 31, 2010) (“2009 RRA”). BWGU is encouraged to engage a consultant to prepare its 2009 RRA if in-house company expertise is not available. In order to keep itself informed the Commission plans to direct BWGU to file a status update three months before the April 30, 2009 filing date advising the Commission on its progress status of completing the filing deadline. BWGU is reminded that the filing deadline for the Annual Report to the Commission for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2008 is four months following the date of the fiscal year end. Please note that Section 106 of the Utilities Commission Act (the “Act”) provides for penalties of up to $10,000 per day for failure to obey an order made under the Act and also for failure to complete a report required under the Act. Yours truly, Original signed by: Erica M. Hamilton DC/emh cc: Curtis L. Darmohray, Pushor Mitchell LLP Orders/L-22-08_BigWhite 2006 RR Extension for Filing
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.