IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473
and
An Application by Plateau Pipe Line Ltd.
for Approval of the Western Pipeline System Permanent Tolls
and the Long-Term Service Toll Settlement Agreement
BEFORE: L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner
C.A. Brown, Commissioner
B.A. Magnan, Commissioner April 18, 2013
D.M. Morton, Commissioner
R.D. Revel, Commissioner
O R D E R
WHEREAS:
A. The Commission approved the Toll Settlement (TS) Agreement and the Full Path Long‐Term Service (FPLTS) Agreement between Plateau Pipe Line Ltd. (Plateau) and the shippers on the Western Pipeline System (Shippers) by Order P-8-08 dated October 28, 2008;
B. Both the TS Agreement and the FPLTS Agreement expired on February 29, 2012, and subsequently Plateau has been engaged in negotiations with the Shippers to settle on a Long-Term Service Toll Settlement (LTSTS) Agreement with a proposed term of March 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016;
C. The Commission approved an interim toll increase for Taylor to Prince George from $10.12/m3 to $13.00/m3, and for Taylor to Kamloops from $20.00/m3 to $29.00/m3 effective March 1, 2012, by Order G-48-12 dated April 19, 2012;
D. The Commission approved an interim toll increase for Taylor to Prince George from $13.00/m3 to $20.00/m3, and for Taylor to Kamloops from $29.00/m3 to $37.00/m3 effective June 1, 2012, by Order G-99-12 dated July 19, 2012;
E. On March 13, 2013, Plateau applied to the Commission for approval of a permanent toll decrease for Taylor to Prince George from $20.00/m3 to $12.00/m3, and for Taylor to Kamloops from $37.00/m3 to $34.00/m3, effective April 1, 2013 (the Application). The Application includes executed copies between Plateau and three of the four Shippers of the LTSTS Agreement, effective March 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016. In accordance with the terms of the LTSTS Agreement, Shippers that did not sign the LTSTS Agreement are designated Non-LTSTS Shippers;
F. The Commission has reviewed the Application and determines that approval is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to Section 65 of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission orders as follows:
1. The Long-Term Service Toll Settlement Agreement effective March 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016, is approved as filed.
2. The interim tolls approved by Order G-48-12 are made permanent effective March 1, 2012.
3. The interim tolls approved by Order G-99-12 are made permanent effective June 1, 2012.
4. The requested Taylor to Prince George toll of $12.00/m3 and Taylor to Kamloops toll of $34.00/m3 are approved as permanent effective April 1, 2013.
5. Plateau must provide a copy of this Order to all Shippers on the Western Pipeline System.
6. The approved tolls are subject to review by the Commission in the event of a complaint by one or more Shippers on the pipelines within 60 days of this Order. If a complaint is received by the Commission after 60 days of this Order, any adjustment in tolls will be on a prospective basis.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 18th day of April 2013.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
D.M. Morton
Commissioner