Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

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

and

an Application by FortisBC Energy Inc. Fort Nelson Service Area

for Approval of Deferral Account Treatment for 2014 and Changes to the

Revenue Stabilization Adjustment Mechanism Rate Rider

BEFORE:                 L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner

                                C.A. Brown, Commissioner                                                

                                B.A. Magnan, Commissioner                                              January 9, 2014

                                D.M. Morton, Commissioner

                                R.D. Revel, Commissioner

                                C. van Wermeskerken, Commissioner

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.       On October 11, 2013, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) for deferral account treatment for 2014 and changes to the Revenue Stabilization Adjustment Mechanism (RSAM) Rider (Deferral/RSAM Application) for the Fort Nelson Service Area pursuant to sections 59 to 61 and 89 of the Utilities Commission Act (Act);

B.       In the Deferral/RSAM Application, FEI seeks approval to maintain the current 2013 delivery rates approved by Order
G-44-12 and reset the RSAM Rider, effective January 1, 2014.  FEI also seeks approval to reduce the amortization period for the RSAM from three years to two years;

C.       By Order G-203-13 dated November 28, 2013, the Commission approved the requested change to the RSAM Rider effective January 1, 2014 and the reduction to the RSAM amortization period.  The remainder of the Deferral/RSAM Application is to be the subject of a future Order;

D.       On December 17, 2013, the British Columbia Pensioners’ and Seniors’ Organization et al. (BCPSO) filed a letter in support of a simplified review process for the Deferral/RSAM Application and requesting that if the Commission approves the deferral account treatment that it explicitly state that it is not granting final approval of the estimates and these amounts will be subject to a future process;

E.        On December 18, 2013, the Fort Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce (FNCC) filed Information Requests (IRs) to FEI with the Commission.  On January 6, 2014, FEI filed its responses to the IRs;

F.        By Order G-223-13 dated December 19, 2013, the Commission set the current delivery rates for the FEI Fort Nelson Service Area as interim effective January 1, 2014;

G.       The Commission has concluded that a Regulatory Timetable to complete the process is appropriate.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to sections 59 to 61 and 89 of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission sets the Regulatory Timetable for further submissions as follows:

Regulatory Timetable

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, day of              9^th             January 2014.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

Original signed by:

D. M. Morton

Commissioner