IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473
and
An Application by Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd.
for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to Acquire,
Construct, Own and Operate a Compressed Natural Gas Virtual Pipeline
between the Communities of Dawson Creek and Tumbler Ridge
BEFORE: B.A. Magnan, Panel Chair/Commissioner
L.A. O’Hara, Commissioner March 18, 2014
O R D E R
WHEREAS:
A. On July 17, 2013, Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. [PNG(N.E.)] submitted an application to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) seeking approval for:
(i) A Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) pursuant to sections 45 and 46 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) to construct and operate a permanent “virtual pipeline” trucking service to deliver compressed natural gas (CNG) between Dawson Creek and Tumbler Ridge (CNG Virtual Pipeline); and
(ii) Under sections 59, 60 and 61 of the UCA, a proposed new Bulk CNG Service (RS30) tariff for Dawson Creek to provide CNG service to customers (the Initial Application);
B. Commission Order G-119-13 established a written hearing process for the proceeding and a Regulatory Timetable with two rounds of Information Requests (IRs);
C. Commission Order G-157-13 amended the Regulatory Timetable to include a third round of IRs;
D. The following Interveners registered as a participants for the proceeding:
(i) The British Columbia Pensioners’ and Seniors’ Organization et al. (BCPSO);
(ii) The District of Tumbler Ridge (DTR);
(iii) FortisBC Energy Utilities (FEU);
E. BCPSO submitted its application for Participant Assistant/Cost Award (PACA) funding to the Commission on December 17, 2013 for its participation in the proceeding;
F. On March 7, 2014, PNG(N.E.) submitted that, so long as the Commission is satisfied with the amounts applied for, PNG(N.E.) has no further comments on the PACA application from BCPSO; and
G. Pursuant to the PACA Guidelines, the Commission determines the entitlement to a full or partial award taking into account the criteria in the Guidelines, the information provided by the participant and variances in estimates provided. The Commission is satisfied that BCPSO should receive a Participant Assistance/Cost Award to recover costs related to this proceeding.
NOW THEREFORE the British Columbia Utilities Commission orders as follows:
1. Pursuant to section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission awards funds of $8,304.36 to the British Columbia Pensioners’ and Seniors’ Organization et al. for its participation in the proceeding.
2. Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. is directed to reimburse the British Columbia Pensioners’ and Seniors’ Organization et al. for the amount that has been awarded in a timely manner.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 18th day of March, 2014.
BY ORDER
Original Signed By:
B.A. Magnan
Panel Chair/Commissioner