Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

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

and

An Application by FortisBC Inc.

for Approval of 2011 Capital Expenditure Plan

BEFORE:               L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner

                                                                                                                                June 25, 2010

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.    On June 18, 2010 FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC, Company) filed a 2011 Capital Expenditure Plan (the Application) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (the Commission) pursuant to sections 44.2 (1)(a) and (b) and 45(6) of the Utilities Commission Act (the Act); and

B.      In the Application, FortisBC requests acceptance of its proposed 2011 Capital Expenditures Plan pursuant to section 44.2 (3)(a) and that the Application satisfies the requirements of section 45(6), and the Commission approve the 2011 Capital Expenditure Plan and the capital projects contained in the Application; and

C.      The FortisBC 2011 Capital Expenditure Plan consists of expenditures of $103.3 million in 2011 and $5.3 million in 2012.  In the Application, FortisBC states these expenditures are necessary to continue to provide reliable service, ensure public and employee safety, and to deliver Demand Side Management (DSM) programs to the Company’s growing customer base; and

D.      FortisBC will hold a 2011 Capital Plan Workshop in Kelowna, BC on Wednesday, August 4, 2010, at the Manteo Resort, 3762 Lakeshore Road, Kelowna, BC; and

E.       FortisBC proposes a written public hearing process to review the Application; and

F.       The Commission considers that a written public hearing process is required for the review of the Application.

NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:

1.       The Commission establishes a Written Public Hearing process for the review of the Application in accordance with the Regulatory Timetable attached as Appendix A.

2.       FortisBC will publish, as soon as possible, in display-ad format, a Notice of Application and Workshop in the form attached as Appendix B, in sufficient newspapers in the FortisBC service area to adequately inform the public of the Application.

3.       Persons wishing to attend the Workshop should register with the Commission, in writing or by electronic submission, by Friday, July 30, 2010.  Interveners and Interested Parties wishing to participate in the written hearing process should register with the Commission, in writing or by electronic submission, by Wednesday, August 11, 2010.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this          28^th            day of June 2010.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                                Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                L.F. Kelsey

                                                                                                                                Commissioner

Attachments

FortisBC Inc.

2011 Capital Expenditure Plan

REGULATORY TIMETABLE

NOTICE OF APPLICATION AND WORKSHOP

An Application by FortisBC Inc.

for Approval of its  2011 Capital Expenditure Plan

THE APPLICATION

On June 18, 2010 FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) filed a 2011 Capital Expenditure Plan (the Application) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (the Commission) pursuant to Sections 44.2 (1) (a) and (b) and 45 (2) of the Utilities Commission Act (the Act).

FortisBC states these expenditures are necessary to continue to provide reliable service, ensure public and employee safety, and to deliver Demand Side Management (DSM) programs to the Company’s growing customer base.  

The FortisBC 2011 Capital Expenditure Plan consists of expenditures of $103.3 million in 2011 and $5.3 million in 2012.  These expenditures are necessary to continue to provide reliable service, ensure public and employee safety, and to deliverDSM programs to the Company’s growing customer base.  The 2011 Capital Expenditure Plan will also address total new expenditures on Plant and Equipment for 2011 that is forecasted at $91.3 million.

THE REGULATORY PROCESS

The Commission has established a Regulatory Timetable for a Written Public Hearing process to review the Application.

WORKSHOP

Persons wishing to attend the FortisBC Workshop should notify the Commission, in writing or by electronic submission, no later than Friday, July 30, 2010.

INTERVENTIONS

Persons who expect to actively participate in the FortisBC proceeding should register as Interveners with the Commission, in writing or by electronic submission, no later than Wednesday, August 11, 2010.  Interveners are requested to identify their interest in the Application.  Interveners will each receive a copy of the Application and all correspondence and filed documentation in accordance with the Commission’s Document Filing Protocols.

Persons not expecting to actively participate, but who have an interest in the proceeding, should register as Interested Parties with the Commission, in writing, by the same date.  Interested Parties will receive a copy of the Applicant’s Executive Summary and the Commission’s Decision when issued.

All submissions and/or correspondence received from active participants or the public relating to the Application will be placed on the public record and posted to the Commission’s web site at www.bcuc.com.  The Commission Panel in a proceeding may award costs for participation, pursuant to the Participant Assistance/Cost Award Guidelines, under section 118 of the Utilities Commission Act.  The Guidelines are available at www.bcuc.com.  Participants intending to apply for participant assistance must file a budget by Friday, August 13, 2010.

PUBLIC INSPECTION OF THE DOCUMENTS

The Application and supporting materials will be available for inspection at the following locations:

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information, please contact Ms. Erica Hamilton, Commission Secretary as follows:

Telephone:         (604) 660-4700                                                   B.C. Toll Free              1-800-663-1385

Facsimile:            (604) 660-1102                                                   E-Mail:              commission.secretary@bcuc.com