IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Energy Inc.
Application for Approval to Amend the
Balancing Charges for Rate Schedules 23, 25, 26 and 27
BEFORE: R. D. Revel, Panel Chair/Commissioner
H. G. Harowitz, Commissioner December 1, 2014
K. A. Keilty, Commissioner
O R D E R
WHEREAS:
A. On February 26, 2014, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) issued Order G-21-14 which approved amalgamation of the FortisBC Energy Utilities (FEU), comprising FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI), FortisBC (Vancouver Island) Inc. (FEVI), and FortisBC (Whistler) Inc. (FEW), and Terasen Gas Holdings Inc. into one entity (Amalgamated Entity) and directed the FEU to file a rate design application for the Amalgamated Entity no later than two years after the effective date of the amalgamation of the FEU and Terasen Gas Holdings Inc.;
B. On May 13, 2014, FEI applied to the Commission for approval to increase the existing charge per gigajoule (GJ) of Balancing Gas supplied in Rate Schedules 23, 25, 26 and 27, to the Sumas Daily Price average for the month plus $0.10 per GJ, effective January 1, 2015 (Application) pursuant to sections 59 through 61 of the Utilities Commission Act;
C. By Order G-71-14 dated June 6, 2014, the Commission established a written hearing process and a regulatory timetable with two rounds of information requests to review the Application;
D. On July 31, 2014, FEI filed a letter with the Commission requesting a two week extension to the deadline for FEI responses to Commission and intervener Information Request No. 2 due to the larger than expected number of information requests from the Commission and interveners;
E. On August 5, 2014, the Commission issued Order G-109-14 establishing an amended regulatory timetable;
F. In this proceeding, British Columbia Old Age Pensioners Organization et al. (BCOAPO), Cascadia Energy Ltd. (Cascadia), Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC), Just Energy (B.C.) Limited Partnership, Sentinel Energy Management (Sentinel), and Shell Energy North America (Canada) Inc. registered as interveners. Independent Energy Consulting and Access Gas registered as interested parties;
G. During the course of the proceeding, information requests were submitted to FEI by the Commission, CEC, Cascadia and Sentinel, and FEI responded to two rounds of information requests;
H. On August 28, 2014, FEI submitted its final submission. On September 11, 2014, BCOAPO, Cascadia, CEC, and Sentinel submitted their final submission, and on September 17, 2014, FEI submitted its reply submission; and
I. The Commission reviewed the Application, the evidence submitted through the review process and the submissions of all participants, and determines that FEI’s Application should be denied. The reasons are as stated in the decision issued concurrently with this order.
NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to sections 59-61 of the Utilities Commission Act, for the reasons set out in the Decision, the British Columbia Utilities Commission orders as follows:
1. FortisBC Energy Inc.’s (FEI) Application to amend the charge for Balancing Gas supplied in Rate Schedules 23, 25, 26 and 27 to the Average of the Sumas Daily Price for the Month plus $0.10 per GJ (Canadian dollars) is denied.
2. FEI is directed to file a rate design application on Monthly Balanced Transportation Service by no later than one year from the date of this order.
3. FEI is directed to comply with all of the directives set out in the in the Decision.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 1st day of December 2014.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
R. D. Revel
Panel Chair/Commissioner