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 October 15, 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 (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. On August 2, 2012, the Commission issued Order G-105-12 establishing a Preliminary Regulatory Timetable that requested comments on the need to hold Community Input Sessions in the areas of Trail, Osoyoos, and Kelowna by Friday, September 7, 2012;
C. On September 13, 2012, the Commission issued Order G-124-12 establishing an amended Preliminary Regulatory Timetable that requested comments on the need to hold Community Input Sessions in the areas of Trail, Osoyoos, and Kelowna by Friday, September 14, 2012;
D. Of the seventeen Interveners registered, seven responded to the Commission’s invitation to provide comment on the need for Community Input Sessions and supported the need to hold Community Input Sessions;
E. Only the Commercial Energy Consumers Association of BC submits that it is not in the public interest to hold Commission-led Community Input Sessions. However, the Commission finds that it is in the public interest for these sessions to be led by the Commission so that members of the public can have their comments placed on the official record similar to Intervener-entered evidence. Furthermore, the Commission Panel is interested in hearing the broad public interest in the Application;
F. On September 21, 2012, Commission Panel issued a letter, Exhibit A-6, stating the Commission Panel has considered the submissions received and determined that Commission-led Community Input Sessions will be held in the areas of Trail, Osoyoos, and Kelowna during the week of November 5, 2012;
G. On September 25, 2012, the Commission Panel considered the submissions received by parties with respect to the need for Community Input Sessions and was persuaded that there is a public interest in offering the Commission-led sessions as proposed, subject to a minimum registration. The Commission Panel established the date, time and location for the Community Input Sessions;
H. On October 15, 2012, FortisBC advised the Commission that the Osoyoos display notice in Order G-137-12 was not published in the Oliver Chronicle in a timely manner and that it would be published on Wednesday, October 17, 2012;
I. As the publication of the display notice for the Osoyoos area did not occur in a timely manner, the Commission concludes that those wishing to make presentations at the Osoyoos Community Input Session be permitted additional time to contact Commission Counsel.
NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:
1. FortisBC will publish, on Wednesday, October 17, 2012, in display-ad format, a Notice of Community Input Session attached as Appendix A, in the Oliver Chronicle.
2. Subject to leave being granted by the Chair, members of the public attending the Osoyoos Community Input Session, who have not notified Commission Counsel by Wednesday, October 24, 2012 and who wish to make a presentation at the Osoyoos Community Input Session are requested to advise Commission Counsel at least 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the afternoon or evening Community Input Session.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 15th day of October 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
|
Notice of Community Input Sessions |
|
Date: |
Tuesday, |
Wednesday, November 7, 2012, |
Thursday, |
|
Time: |
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. |
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. |
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. |
|
Location: |
Best Western Plus Columbia River Hotel, 1001 Rossland Avenue, Trail, BC |
Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa, 1200 Rancher Creek Road, Osoyoos, BC |
Best Western Plus Kelowna Hotel & Suites, 2402 Hwy 97 North, Kelowna, BC |
THE APPLICATION
On July 26, 2012, FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (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).
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. To maintain firm contract vendor pricing, FortisBC requests approval of the proposed Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity by July 20, 2013.
On September 28, 2012, the Commission issued Order G-137-12 establishing the amended Preliminary Regulatory Timetable and the Community Input Sessions for this Application. The Notice was not published in the Oliver Chronicle as anticipated.
On October 15, 2012, the Commission issued Order G-149-12, amending the registration timelines for Osoyoos, BC.
THE COMMUNITY INPUT SESSION
The Community Input Sessions will provide Members of the public an opportunity to make presentations to the Commission Panel on the AMI Project, and the presentations will be recorded. Each presentation will be limited to 15 minutes. All parties making submissions at the Community Input Sessions are encouraged to provide a hard copy of their submissions for filing on the official record.
Parties wishing to make a presentation to the Commission Panel should contact Mr. Gordon Fulton, Commission Counsel, at gfulton@boughton.ca or (604) 647-4104 by Monday, October 15, 2012, except for members of the public attending the Osoyoos Community Input Session. If by Wednesday, October 17, 2012 (except for Osoyoos, BC which will be Wednesday, October 24, 2012) four or less presentations are scheduled for a Community Input Session, then that Community Input Session will be cancelled. Notice of cancellation of a Community Input Session will be provided to those who register with the Commission Secretary for the Community Input Session.
A short information session will be held on how to participate in a Commission proceeding at 5:45 p.m. prior to the commencement of the evening Community Input Sessions. An information letter will be posted to the Commission’s proceeding website providing Participants with procedural information on the Community Input Session.
All submissions and/or correspondence received from active participants or the public relating to the Application, will be placed on the public record and posted to the Commission’s web site.
PUBLIC INSPECTION OF THE DOCUMENTS
The Application and supporting documents will also be available for view on the Commission’s website at http://www.bcuc.com.
For further information or to register, please contact Ms. Erica Hamilton, Commission Secretary, as follows:
Telephone: (604) 660-4700 E-Mail: Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com
Facsimile: (604) 660-1102 Telephone: BC Toll Free: 1-800-663-1385