Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

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

and

An Application by FortisBC Inc.

for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project

Procedural Conference

BEFORE:                 L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner

                                D.M. Morton, Commissioner                                              September 26, 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 established a Preliminary Regulatory Timetable, attached as Appendix A to Order G-105-12, requesting comments on the regulatory process by which to review the Application, such as written, oral or both by Friday, September 7, 2012;

C.       On September 7, 2012, BC Residential Utility Customers Association stated the review of this Application could, and should be handled through a written process;

D.       On September 7, 2012, Citizens for Safe Technology Society stated that adequate consideration of the evidence in each of these areas will require a viva voce hearing with the opportunity for participants to cross-examine competing experts, either in person or by video conference;

E.        On September 7, 2012, British Columbia Pensioners’ and Seniors’ Organization, BC Coalition of People with Disabilities, Counsel of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of BC, and the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre submit that at this point, an Oral Hearing is the most appropriate process;

F.        On September 7, 2012, the Irrigation Ratepayers Group submits that an Oral Hearing appears to be the most appropriate process;

G.       On September 7, 2012, the Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia submits that formal oral and written regulatory hearings are required;

H.       On September 13, 2012, the Commission amended the Preliminary Regulatory Timetable, attached as Appendix A to Order G-105-12 requesting comments on the regulatory process by which to review the Application, such as written, oral or both by Friday, September 7, 2012 to Friday, September 21, 2012;

I.         On September 21, 2012, Mr. Jerry Flynn indicated that an Oral Hearing is the most appropriate process;

J.         On September 21, 2012, the B.C. Sustainable Energy Association and the Sierra Club of British Columbia responded stating it supports a hybrid written and oral proceeding: an oral proceeding for issues of health, security and privacy; and a written proceeding for all the other issues;

K.       On September 21, 2012, British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority requests that should there be intervener evidence submitted in the proceeding, that there should also be an opportunity for other interveners to ask questions on that evidence either through information requests or, should there be an oral hearing, through cross examination;

L.        On September 21, 2012, Mr. Andy Shadrack, Director for Electoral Area D in the Regional District Central Kootenay, submits that an Oral Hearing gives Interveners the maximum ability to intervene;

M.     On September 24, 2012, Mr. Keith Miles submits that it may be most advantageous to permit both written and oral input;

N.       The Commission has considered the diverse input received on the regulatory process by which to review the Application and has concluded there is merit to reviewing issues of a financial and operations nature by way of a written process and issues related to health, security and privacy by way of an oral hearing;

O.      The Commission determines that a Procedural Conference will be held in Kelowna to consider more precisely the topics to be reviewed by written and oral processes and to consider the regulatory agenda for the remainder of the proceeding.

NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:

1.       The Preliminary Regulatory Timetable is amended as set out in Appendix A.

2.       The Procedural Conference will be held in Kelowna, commencing at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 8, 2012 at the Best Western Plus Kelowna Hotel & Suites, 2402 Hwy 97 North, South Ballroom, Kelowna, BC, Canada V1X 4J1.

3.       The Commission will issue a further procedural Order and Regulatory Timetable for the continued review of the Application following the Procedural Conference.

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

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                            Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                L.F. Kelsey

                                                                                                                                Commissioner

Attachment

APPENDIX A

to Order G-135-12

Page 1 of 1

An Application by FortisBC Inc.

for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project

AMENDED PRELIMINARY

REGULATORY TIMETABLE