Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

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

and

Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.

2012 Resource Plan for PNG (N.E.) Pipeline Systems

BEFORE:               L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner

                                N.E. MacMurchy, Commissioner                               October 16, 2012

                                B.A. Magnan, Commissioner

O R D E R

WHEREAS:

A.      By Order G-150-08 dated October 16, 2008, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) accepted the Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. (PNG (N.E.) 2008 Resource Plan and directed PNG (N.E.) to file its next resource plan concurrently with any application for a capital expenditure not included in the 2008 Resource Plan, or by August 31, 2012, whichever occurred first;

B.      On July 30, 2012, PNG advised the Commission that, for a number of reasons, primarily other work load requirements, PNG would be unable to complete its PNG (N.E.) 2012 Resource Plan by the required deadline.  Therefore, PNG requested an extension of the August 31, 2012 filing date to September 30, 2012;

C.      By Letter L-44-12 dated August 2, 2012, the Commission determined that it was reasonable to extend the filing date from August 31, 2012 to September 30, 2012;

D.      On October 1, 2012, the Commission received Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. (PNG)’s 2012 Resource Plan for PNG (N.E.)’s Fort St. John/Dawson Creek and Tumbler Ridge distribution pipeline systems (2012 Resource Plan);

E.       PNG has sent a copy of the 2012 Resource Plan to the parties who registered as interveners in the PNG (N.E.) 2012 Revenue Requirements application, namely the British Columbia Pensioners’ and Seniors’ Organization and the Peace River Regional District;  

F.    On October 16, 2012, PNG refiled with the Commission the 2012 Resource Plan including both confidential and public versions noting that the confidential 2012 Resource Plan contains commercially sensitive information;

G.   PNG requests that the British Columbia Pensioners’ and Seniors’ Organization and the Peace River Regional District complete and file an Undertaking of Confidentiality with respect to the confidential version of the 2012 Resource Plan; and

H.    The Commission has determined that a written review process is warranted and considers that a regulatory timetable should be established.

NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:

1.       A Written Hearing Process is established for the review of the Application in accordance with the Regulatory Timetable attached as Appendix A to this Order.

2.       PNG shall provide a copy of this Order to those parties who registered in the PNG (N.E.) 2012 Revenue Requirements application, namely the British Columbia Pensioners’ and Seniors’ Organization and the Peace River Regional District.

3.       Persons who wish to participate in the PNG (N.E.) 2012 Resource Plan proceeding as Interveners or Interested Parties should register with the Commission via written or electronic submission by Friday, October 26, 2012.  Interveners should state the nature of their interest in the Application.

4.       Interveners intending to apply for Participant Assistance must submit a budget estimate by Monday, November 5, 2012.  Participant Assistance applications should be consistent with the Commission’s Participant Assistance/Cost Award Guidelines and Order G-72-07.  Copies of the Guidelines are available upon request or can be downloaded from the Commission’s website at http://www.bcuc.com/Documents/Guidelines/2010/DOC_5014_G-72-07_PACA_2007_Guidelines.pdf.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this      17^th        day of October 2012.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                N.E. MacMurchy

                                                                                                                                Commissioner

Attachment

Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.

2012 Resource Plan for PNG (N.E.) Pipeline Systems

REGULATORY TIMETABLE