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                                          February 7, 2012

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.      Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. (PNG) filed, on November 30, 2011, with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (the Commission), pursuant to sections 58 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (the Act), 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;

B.      The Application 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 Commission received submissions from the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) on January 27, 2012, the British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO) on January 31, 2012 and PNG on January 31, 2012;

F.       The PRRD and PNG submissions support a written hearing process for the review of the Application.  BCOAPO’s submission states that a written process may be appropriate for the review of the Application, but it reserves the right to re-assess its position at the conclusion of the evidentiary stage.  All Parties support delaying the filing date of Information Request No. 1 until after PNG files its updated Application.  The PNG submission also includes a proposed regulatory timetable for the Commission’s consideration;

G.     The Commission has considered the submissions received and finds that an Amended Regulatory Timetable for the review of the Application is required to be established.

NOW THEREFORE the Commission establishes an Amended Regulatory Timetable, attached as Appendix A to this Order, for the review of the Application.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this Seventh day of February 2012.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                                C.A. Brown

                                                                                                                                Commissioner

Attachments

APPENDIX A

to Order G-13-12

Page 1 of 1

An Application by Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.

for Approval of its 2012 Revenue Requirements

for the PNG-West Service Area

AMENDED REGULATORY TIMETABLE