Orders

 

IN THE MATTER OF

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

 

and

 

Applications for Participant Assistance/Cost Award

in the Application by the FortisBC Energy Utilities

(comprising FortisBC Energy Inc., FortisBC Energy (Vancouver Island) Inc.,

and FortisBC Energy (Whistler) Inc.)

for Reconsideration and Variance of Commission Order G-26-13 on

the 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                                                    March 3, 2014

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;

 

E.        The Commission Panel reviewed the submissions and by Order G-100-13 dated June 26, 2013, established Phase Two of the Reconsideration process;

F.        On February 26, 2014, the Commission issued its Decision and accompanying Order 21-14 on the Application for Reconsideration and Variance of Commission Order G-26-13;

 

G.       Between November 13, 2013, and December 16, 2013, the following Interveners filed applications for Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) funding:

•         British Columbia Pensioners’ and Seniors’ Organization et al.;

•         Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities; and  

•         Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia;

 

H.       On December 24, 2013, FEU provided the Commission with their comments on the PACA applications stating that funding should be awarded, and

 

I.         The Commission reviewed the PACA applications with regard to the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines in Commission Order G-72-07 and has concluded that cost awards should be approved as filed.

 

 

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission orders as follows:

 

1.          The Commission awards funds to the following Interveners for their participation in the proceeding:

 

Intervener	Award
Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC)	$6,000.00
British Columbia Seniors’ and Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCPSO)	8,103.38
Commercial Energy Consumers Association of BC (CEC)	$34,787.82
Total	$48,891.20

 

2.      FortisBC Utilities are directed to reimburse the above noted Interveners for the awarded amounts in a timely manner.

 

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this               3^rd              day of March 2014.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

A.A. Rhodes

Panel Chair/Commissioner