Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

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

and

Applications for Reconsideration and Variance

of Order G-26-13

in respect of FortisBC Energy Utilities’

Common Rates, Amalgamation and Rate Design Application

BEFORE:               A.A. Rhodes, Panel Chair/Commissioner

C.A. Brown, Commissioner

D.A. Cote, Commissioner                                             June 26, 2013

L.A. O’Hara, Commissioner

R.D. Revel, Commissioner

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.      On February 25, 2013, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) issued Order G-26-13 together with its Decision, denying the Application of the FortisBC Energy Utilities (FEU) to adopt common rates for natural gas delivery and, consequently, declining to find that the related issue of amalgamation of the FEU and Terasen Gas Holdings Inc. is beneficial in the public interest;

B.      On April 17 and 26, 2013, respectively, the Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC) and the FEU applied to the Commission for a Reconsideration of Order G-26-13;

C.      By letter dated May 8, 2013, the Commission established Phase One of the Reconsideration process seeking written comments on whether the CEC and the FEU had provided reasonable grounds to warrant the Reconsideration process proceeding to Phase Two; 

D.      By the deadlines established in the May 8, 2013 letter, the Commission received comments from the British Columbia Seniors’ and Pensioners’ Organization et al., Randolph Robinson, Rental Owners and Managers Society of BC, Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities, Fort Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce, and a reply from the FEU; and

E.       The Commission Panel has reviewed the submissions from all parties and is of the view that the Reconsideration process should proceed to Phase Two.

NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:

1.       Phase Two of the Reconsideration process is established.

2.       The Reconsideration will include all items put forward by the Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia and the FortisBC Energy Utilities (FEU) in their applications for Reconsideration.

3.       New evidence will be accepted on the issues raised by the British Columbia Seniors’ and Pensioners’ Organization et al. and the FEU, and other relevant issues that may arise.

4.       New parties will be given the opportunity to present evidence.

5.       The Regulatory Timetable attached as Appendix A is established for Phase Two of the Reconsideration process.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this     26^th              day of June 2013.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

Original signed by:

A.A. Rhodes

Panel Chair/Commissioner

Attachment

Applications for Reconsideration and Variance

of Order G-26-13

in respect of FortisBC Energy Utilities’

Common Rates, Amalgamation and Rate Design Application

REGULATORY TIMETABLE