Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

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

and

An Application by Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.

for Approval of its 2012 Revenue Requirements

for the PNG-West Service Area

BEFORE:               C.A. Brown, Commissioner                                          May 23, 2012

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.      On November 30, 2011, Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. (PNG) filed, with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (the Commission), its 2012 Revenue Requirements Application (Application) to increase, among other things, delivery rates as a result of increases in cost of service, partially offset by increased deliveries to some customer classes, pursuant to sections 58 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (the Act);

B.      The Applicant, PNG, also seeks refundable interim relief pursuant to sections 58 to 61, 89 and 90 of the Act, to allow PNG to amend its rates on an interim basis, effective January 1, 2012, pending the hearing of the Application and orders subsequent to that hearing, on the basis that on January 1, 2012, PNG’s rates would otherwise no longer be fair, just and not unduly discriminatory;

C.      Commission Order G-207-11 approved the delivery rates and the Rate Stabilization Adjustment Mechanism rider set forth in the Application on an interim basis, effective January 1, 2012.  The Order also established a Preliminary Regulatory Timetable, a Workshop to review the issues in the Application, and invited Registered Interveners to make submissions regarding the appropriate and formal review process for the Application;

D.      By letter dated January 4, 2012, the Commission proposed a draft regulatory timetable for the review of the Application and requested submissions regarding the draft regulatory timetable.  In accordance with Commission Order G-207-11, a Workshop was held on January 12, 2012;

E.       The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) and PNG submissions dated January 27, 2012 and January 31, 2012, supported a written hearing process for the review of the Application.  The British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO) submission dated January 31, 2012, stated that a written process may be appropriate for the review of the Application, but it reserved the right to re-assess its position at the conclusion of the evidentiary stage.  All Parties supported delaying the filing date of Information Request (IR) No. 1 until after PNG filed its updated Application;

F.       Commission Order G-13-12, established an Amended Regulatory Timetable for the review of the Application that included a request for Intervener submissions regarding the format of the proceeding, following PNG’s responses to the second round of IRs and a draft written argument schedule;

G.     On May 18, 2012, the Commission received submissions from PNG, BCOAPO and the PRRD supporting a written hearing process for the review of the Application;

H.      The Commission has considered the submissions received.

NOW THEREFORE the Commission establishes a written hearing process for the review of the Application.  Further, the Commission also establishes a Revised Amended Regulatory Timetable, attached as Appendix A to this Order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this                23^rd                 day of May 2012.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                                Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                C.A. Brown

                                                                                                                                Commissioner

Attachment

An Application by Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.

for Approval of its 2012 Revenue Requirements

for the PNG-West Service Area

REVISED AMENDED REGULATORY TIMETABLE