Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473

and

An Application by Terasen Gas Inc.

for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

for the Customer Care Enhancement Project

Insourcing of Customer Care Services and Implementation of a New Customer Information System

BEFORE:               A.A. Rhodes, Panel Chair/Commissioner

                                D.A. Cote, Commissioner                                             April 20, 2010

                                R.J. Milbourne, Commissioner

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.      On June 2, 2009, Terasen Gas Inc. (Terasen Gas) filed an application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to section 45 of the Utilities Commission Act, for its Customer Care Enhancement Project (Project).  The Project involves insourcing of key components of customer care services and the implementation of a new customer information system (CIS) under the control of Terasen Gas; and

B.      On November 16, 2009, the Commission issued Order G-134-09 establishing a Written Hearing process and a Regulatory Timetable.  The Final Submissions of Terasen Gas and the Interveners, and the Reply Submission of Terasen Gas were filed in accordance with Commission Order G-134-09.  The Oral Phase of Argument took place on February 1, 2010.  The Commission issued Order G-23-10 dated February 16, 2010 with Reasons for Decision to follow; and

C.      On March 3, 2010, the British Columbia Public Interest Advocacy Centre submitted an application for a Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) on behalf of the BC Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO) for its participation in the proceeding for the review of the Customer Care Enhancement Project (Proceeding); and

D.      On March 5, 2010, the Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC) submitted a PACA application for a Cost Award for its participation in the Proceeding; and

E.       The Commission Panel has reviewed the applications with regard to the criteria and rates set out in the Guidelines in Commission Order G-72-07 and has concluded that the cost awards should be approved for BCOAPO and the CEC.

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 Interveners for their participation in the Proceeding to review the Customer Care Enhancement Project application.

2.    Terasen Gas 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       20^th         day of April, 2010.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                                Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                A.A. Rhodes

                                                                                                                                Panel Chair/Commissioner