Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

FortisBC Inc.

Application for Stepped and Stand-by Rates for Transmission Voltage Customers

BEFORE:               L. A. O’Hara, Panel Chair/Commissioner

                                R. D. Revel, Commissioner                                           March 24, 2015

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.      On March 28, 2013, FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) for approval of new rates for transmission voltage customers (Original Application) under sections 58‑61 of the Utilities Commission Act;

B.      The Original Application requested, among other things, approval for a Rate Schedule 37 Stand-by Service Rate (RS 37) and a determination of the retroactive application of rates to Zellstoff Celgar Limited Partnership (Celgar);

C.      The British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, Celgar, International Forest Products Limited, the British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ and Seniors’ Organization et al, the BC Municipal Electric Utilities, and Minister of Energy and Mines registered as interveners, while Tolko Industries Ltd. registered as an interested party;

D.      On May 26, 2014, by Order G-67-14, the Commission, among other things, declined to approve RS 37 as proposed in the Original Application but did approve several components of the rate. The Commission directed FortisBC to file a revised RS 37 incorporating the findings in the Decision and to address certain Celgar specific matters; and

E.       On June 26, 2014, in compliance with Order G-67-14, FortisBC filed for approval of a Revised Stand-by Service Rate (Revised RS 37 Filing), and by Orders G-81-14, G-118-14, G-154-14, and G-168-14 the Commission established the regulatory timetable for the review of the Revised RS 37 Filing.

NOW THEREFORE the British Columbia Utilities Commission, pursuant to sections 59-61 of the Utilities Commission Act, orders:

1.       The form of Rate Schedule 37 Stand-by Service (RS 37), other than defining the penalty as outlined in Section 5.4 of the decision, is approved subject to the changes directed in the decision and subject to the RS 37 directed language being workable to FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) pursuant to directive 2.

2.       Within ten working days of the date of this Order, and in accordance with Section 7 of the decision, the language directed in the decision, and included in the Draft RS 37 Tariff attached as Appendix A, is open for comment by FortisBC; however, the content and intent thereof is determinative.

3.       In accordance with the following timetable, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) seeks further submissions on the proposed penalty as directed in Section 5.4 of the decision and the conditions under which it will be waived:

The Submissions must be limited to comments on:

i)        The Commission proposed penalty;

ii)       Any alternate proposed penalties; and

iii)     Defining any unusual/extreme circumstance under which the penalty will be waived.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this             24^th                 day of March 2015.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                                Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                L. A. O’Hara

                                                                                                                                Panel Chair/Commissioner