IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 196, Chapter 473
and
Terasen Gas Inc., Terasen Gas (Vancouver Island) Inc.
and Terasen Gas (Whistler) Inc.
2010 Long Term Resource Plan
Application for Participant Assistance/Cost Awards
BEFORE: D.A. Cote, Panel Chair/Commissioner
A.W.K. Anderson, Commissioner February 9, 2011
L.A. O’Hara, Commissioner
O R D E R
WHEREAS:
A. By letter dated July 15, 2010, Terasen Gas Inc., Terasen Gas (Vancouver Island) Inc. and Terasen Gas (Whistler) Inc. (collectively Terasen Utilities) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (the Commission) its 2010 Long Term Resource Plan (2010 LTRP) for review;
B. On August 4, 2010, the Commission issued Order G-124-10 initiating a regulatory review process that included a Procedural Conference on September 21, 2010 and two rounds of Information Requests;
C. Following the Procedural Conference held on September 21, 2010, Order G-146-10 issued on September 24, 2010 established an Amended Regulatory Timetable, which, among other things, provided for a schedule for all Parties to make submissions on the need for a Second Procedural Conference to address issues which arose at the September 21, 2010 Procedural Conference;
D. Following the Commission Panel’s consideration of the submissions of the Parties with respect to the need for a Second Procedural Conference, the Panel determined it would not be required and Commission Order G-169-10 established that the regulatory review of the 2010 LTRP would proceed as a Written Hearing;
E. The Commission accepted the 2010 LTRP by Order G-14-11 on February 1, 2011;
F. The B.C. Sustainable Energy Association and the Sierra Club of British Columbia Chapter (BCSEA et al.), the Commercial Energy Consumers’ Association of British Columbia (CEC), and the British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO) filed applications for Participant Assistance/Cost Awards (PACA) with respect to their participation in the proceeding respectively on December 19, 2010, January 7, 2011 and January 11, 2011;
G. Terasen Utilities informed the Commission by letter dated January 19, 2011 that they had reviewed the PACA applications and that the applications were not unreasonable;
H. The Commission has reviewed the PACA applications for cost awards with regard to the criteria and rates as set out in Order G-72-07 and has concluded that the PACA applications from BCSEA et al., CEC and BCOAPO are reasonable and should be approved.
NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:
1. Pursuant to Section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the PACA applicants are awarded the following for their participation in the proceeding:
|
Participant |
Application |
Award |
|
BCSEA et al. |
$7,866.98 |
$7,866.98 |
|
CEC |
$15,313.20 |
$15,313.20 |
|
BCOAPO |
$7,490.00 |
7,490.00 |
2. Terasen Utilities is directed to reimburse the above-noted participants for the awarded amounts in a timely manner.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 9th day of February, 2011.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
D. A. Cote
Panel Chair/Commissioner