LETTER L‐37‐08
ERICA M. HAMILTON
SIXTH FLOOR, 900 HOWE STREET, BOX 250
COMMISSION SECRETARY
VANCOUVER, B.C. CANADA V6Z 2N3
Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com
TELEPHONE: (604) 660‐4700
web site: http://www.bcuc.com
BC TOLL FREE: 1‐800‐663‐1385
FACSIMILE: (604) 660‐1102
Log No. 25915
VIA EMAIL
cdonohue@png.ca
July 31, 2008
Mr. C.P. Donohue
Director, Regulatory Affairs & Gas Supply
Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.
950 ‐ 1185 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6E 4E6
Dear Mr. Donohue:
Re: Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. (“PNG”)
Carbon Tax and Provincial Tax Rate Treatment
Further to your June 27, 2008 letter summarizing how PNG intends to treat the impact on its 2008 cost
of service of the carbon tax and reduction in BC corporate income tax rate that take effect on July 1,
2008, this letter acknowledges that PNG is not applying for Commission approval to record these cost
impacts in any deferral accounts. PNG has stated that the one percent reduction in the provincial
income tax rate is estimated to reduce 2008 income taxes by approximately $9,000 in the PNG‐West
division and $6,000 in the PNG(N.E.) division and the carbon tax will increase the cost of service by a
total of $5,000 for all divisions for a net reduction in 2008 cost of service of $10,000 for all divisions.
The Commission has considered PNG’s proposal but the Commission has determined that 2008 rates
have been set for the PNG‐West division and PNG(N.E.) division that allow PNG to recover its forecast
cost of service and its allowed return on equity. Accordingly, any net savings (which PNG has
estimated to be approximately $10,000) are to be returned to customers through a deferral account
with a one‐year amortization in 2009.
The Commission requires PNG to set up separate deferral accounts, Carbon Tax/BC Tax Rate Deferral
Account – PNG‐West and Carbon Tax/B.C. Tax Rate Deferral Account – PNG(N.E.), to record the
respective impact for each division. Also, PNG is to allocate the projected carbon tax increase for fuel
consumed in transportation equipment between the respective PNG‐West and PNG(N.E.) deferral
accounts.
Yours truly,
Original signed by
Erica M. Hamilton
SM/emh
L‐37‐08 PNG Carbon and Prov Tax Treatment
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.