Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

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

and

FortisBC Inc.

Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project

BEFORE:               L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner

                                D.M. Morton, Commissioner                                      August 2, 2012

                                N.E. MacMurchy, Commissioner                              

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.      On July 26, 2012, FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission, pursuant to sections 45, 46, and 56 of the Utilities Commission Act (the Act), for approval of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Project (Project), including approval of a revised depreciation rate for the proposed meters to be installed (the Application);

B.      The Application estimates the capital cost of the Project to be $47.7 million and expects the Project to commence in late 2013 and be completed by 2015.  FortisBC proposes to install 115,000 residential and commercial AMI meters;

C.      To maintain firm contract vendor pricing, FortisBC requests approval of the proposed Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity by July 20, 2013;

D.      In its Application, FortisBC proposes a hybrid written and oral hearing to review the Application.  The Commission determines it is necessary to initially establish a Preliminary Regulatory Timetable to review the Application, and this timetable will be further developed based on submissions received respecting Community Input Sessions. 

NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:

1.       The Commission establishes a Preliminary Regulatory Timetable, attached as Appendix A to the Order. 

2.       FortisBC will promptly publish, and re-publish prior to Wednesday, September 5, 2012, in display-ad format, the Notice of Application attached as Appendix B to this Order, in the Vancouver Sun, the Province, other local newspapers within its service area, as well as the wholesale areas serviced by FortisBC.

3.       FortisBC will distribute copies of this Order and its Appendices, in a timely fashion, via email, to the Registered Interveners and Interested Parties in the FortisBC Inc. 2012-2013 Revenue Requirements and Review of 2012 Integrated System Plan Application.

4.       Those parties wishing to participate in the review of the AMI Application must register with the Commission Secretary through the Commission’s website, or in writing, by Friday, September 7, 2012.

5.       The Commission invites participants and other parties to provide comment by Friday, September 7, 2012 on the need to hold Community Input Sessions in the areas of Trail, Osoyoos, and Kelowna.  FortisBC may reply to these comments by Friday, September 14, 2012.

6.       Any party intending to file for a Participant Assistance Cost Award (PACA) must submit its PACA budget, pursuant to the PACA Guidelines attached to Order G-72-07, to the Commission by Tuesday, September 11, 2012.  (A complete description of the PACA Guidelines is available at the Commission’s web site:

http://www.bcuc.com/Documents/Guidelines/Participant_Guide.pdf)

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this            2^nd            day of August 2012.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                                Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                L.F. Kelsey

                                                                                                                                Commissioner

Attachments

FortisBC Inc.

Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project

PRELIMINARY REGULATORY TIMETABLE

FortisBC

Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project

THE APPLICATION

On July 26, 2012, pursuant to the Utilities Commission Act (Act), FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) filed an application (Application) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project (AMI Project).  FortisBC requests approval of a revised depreciation rate of five percent for the proposed AMI meters.  The AMI Project has an estimated capital cost of approximately $47.7 million and is expected to commence in late 2013 and be complete by 2015.  FortisBC proposes to install 115,000 residential and commercial AMI meters.

INTERVENTIONS

Persons wishing to actively participate in the FortisBC proceeding must register as Interveners through the Commission’s website at www.bcuc.com or in writing, by Friday, September 7, 2012.  In their registration, Interveners must identify the issues that they intend to pursue, and indicate the extent of their anticipated involvement in the review process.  Interveners will each receive a copy of all non-confidential correspondence and filed documentation, and must provide an email address if available.

Persons not expecting to actively participate, but who have an interest in the proceeding, should register as Interested Parties through the Commission’s website or in writing, by Friday, September 7, 2012, identifying their interest in the proceeding. 

By participating and/or providing comment on the application, you agree that all submissions and/or correspondence received relating to the Application will be placed on the public record and posted on the Commission’s website.

THE REGULATORY PROCESS

Participants and other parties are requested to submit comments prior to Friday, September 7, 2012 on the need for Community (Public) Input Sessions in the areas of Trail, Osoyoos, and Kelowna.  A Procedural Conference will be scheduled to address the process by which to continue the review of the Application after and if Community Input Sessions are held.

An initial Regulatory Timetable for review of the Application is outlined in Appendix A of Order G-105-12.  In order to maintain firm contract pricing on the AMI system, FortisBC requests Commission approval of the proposed CPCN by July 20, 2013.

PUBLIC INSPECTION OF THE DOCUMENTS

The Application and supporting documents will be available for viewing on FortisBC’s website at http://www.fortisbc.com  and on the Commission’s website at http://www.bcuc.com .

The Application and supporting documents will also be made available for inspection at FortisBC’s Head Office at Suite 100, 1975 Springfield Road, Kelowna, B.C., V1Y 7V7, and at the BC Utilities Commission office, Sixth Floor, 900 Howe Street, Vancouver, B.C., V6Z 2N3.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information, please contact Erica Hamilton, Commission Secretary:

Telephone:         (604) 660-4700

B.C. Toll Free:    1-800-663-1385

Facsimile:            (604) 660-1102  

E-Mail:                  commission.secretary@bcuc.com