Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

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

and

Applications for Participant Assistance/Cost Awards

in the Terasen Gas Inc. Application

for Approval of a Gas Supply Mitigation Incentive Program

for the November 1, 2010 to October 31, 2013 Three-Year Period

BEFORE:               L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner

                                N.E. MacMurchy, Commissioner                               January 6, 2011

                                D. Morton, Commissioner

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.    On July 13, 2010 Terasen Gas Inc. (TGI) applied confidentially to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (the Commission) for approval of a revised Gas Supply Mitigation Incentive Program (GSMIP) for the November 1, 2010 to October 31, 2013 three-year period;

B.    TGI’s Reply Submission dated October 12, 2010 completed the written hearing process, and a Decision is pending;

C.    On November 3, 2010, the British Columbia Public Interest Advocacy Centre, on behalf of British Columbia Old Age Pensioners Organization et al (BCOAPO), submitted a PACA application for its participation in the proceeding;

D.    On December 1, 2010, the Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC) submitted a Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) application for its participation in the proceeding;

E.    By letter dated December 21, 2010, TGI commented that it is of the view that the CEC PACA application and the BCOAPO PACA applications are not unreasonable;

F.    Commission Order G-72-07 established Guidelines for PACA applications;

G.   The Commission has reviewed the PACA applications and comments from TGI with regard to the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines and concluded that PACA funding should be awarded to CEC and to BCOAPO in the amounts set out in the respective applications.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission approves:

1.    Participant Assistance Cost Awards in the following amounts with respect to their participation in the FortisBC 2010 Annual Review and 2011 Revenue Requirements proceeding:

                                        BCOAPO                                         $6,805.63

                                        CEC                                                 $10,731.00

2.    TGI is directed to reimburse CEC and BCOAPO for the respective amounts that have been awarded in a timely manner.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this              7^th             day of January 2011.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                                Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                D. Morton

                                                                                                                                Commissioner