Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

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

and

Applications for Participant Assistance/Cost Award

for the FortisBC Energy Inc. Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity Application

for Constructing and Operating a Liquefied Natural Gas Refueling Station at Vedder Transport

BEFORE:               D.M. Morton, Commissioner                                      November 22, 2012

O R D E R

WHEREAS:

A.      On July 13, 2012, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) submitted an Application to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the construction and operation of a Liquefied Natural Gas Refueling Station at Vedder Transport Ltd. and for approval of the rate design and rates to be charged to Vedder for the refuelling service; 

B.      By Order G-114-12 the Commission established the Regulatory Timetable for a Streamlined Review Process including one round of information requests from Commission staff and interveners and streamlined oral hearing;

C.      Two interveners registered as participants for the proceeding: the British Columbia Pensioners’ and Seniors’ Organization (BCPSO), and the British Columbia Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA);

D.      Commission Order G-72-07 established Guidelines for Participant Assistance/Cost Awards (PACA) applications;

E.       Each of the interveners submitted budget estimates and final applications for PACA funding to the Commission for their participation in the proceeding;

F.       By letter dated November 5, 2012, FEI stated it has reviewed the PACA applications and has no objections or comments on the PACA applications submitted;

G.     Pursuant to the PACA Guidelines the Commission determines the entitlement to a full or partial award taking into account the criteria in the Guidelines, the information provided by the participant and variances in estimates provided.  The Commission is satisfied that the participants should receive a Participant Assistance Cost Award to recover costs related to this proceeding.

NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:

1.       Pursuant to section 118 (1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission awards funds in the following amounts to the interveners for their participation in the proceeding. 

2.       FEI is directed to reimburse the Participants for the amounts awarded in a timely manner.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this          26^th            day of November 2012.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                                Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                David Morton

                                                                                                                                Commissioner