Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

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

and

Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.

Application for Approval of 2015 Delivery Rates and RSAM Rider

PNG-West Division

BEFORE:               C. A. Brown, Panel Chair/Commissioner

                                K. A. Keilty, Commissioner                                           April 28, 2015

                                D. M. Morton, Commissioner

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.      On November 28, 2014, Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. (PNG) filed an application regarding 2015 Delivery Rates and Changes to the Revenue Stabilization Adjustment Mechanism (RSAM) rate rider for its West division (Application) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission), pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA);

B.      By Order G-195-14 the Commission approved the requested interim delivery rates and interim RSAM rate rider. Any differences between these interim rates and the permanent rates are refundable or recoverable from customers with interest;

C.      On March 9, 2015, PNG filed an updated application with actual 2014 results (Updated Application). The Updated Application requests Commission approval to retain the 2014 approved delivery rates and increase the RSAM rate rider effective January 1, 2015;

D.      On March 30, 2015, the Commission requested submissions from the parties respecting further process;

E.       On April 7, 2015, British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization, Active Support Against Poverty, Disability Alliance BC, Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of BC, and the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre (BCOAPO) filed submissions suggesting a streamlined process with a round of information requests (IR’s). BCOAPO noted that a minimal amount of discovery process was necessary to provide a review of the proposed increase in operating, maintenance and administration expenses, a review of the proposed RSAM rate rider, and a review of the change in the Negotiated Settlement Process-agreed disposition of Liquefied Natural Gas Option Fees for 2015;

F.       On April 14, 2015 PNG filed its submissions. PNG submits that a round of IR’s and written final submissions were unnecessary and that establishing a round of written information requests followed by written submissions would result in a significant incremental workload on its limited resources and would not result in an efficient and streamlined regulatory process; and

G.     The Commission has reviewed the submissions from BCOAPO and PNG and determined that a minimal amount of discovery is necessary, and a Streamlined Review Process with a preliminary round of IR’s is appropriate to review the Application as it would provide for an efficient process, with appropriate allowance for discovery, while minimizing he incremental workload on PNG’s resources.

NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders that the Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. Application for Approval of 2015 Delivery Rates and Changes to the Revenue Stabilization Adjustment Mechanism rate rider for its West division will be examined through a Streamlined Review Process and the Regulatory Timetable, attached as Appendix A, has been updated.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this               28^th            day of April 2015.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

C. A. Brown

                                                                                                                                Commissioner

Attachment

Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.

Application for Approval of 2015 Delivery Rates and RSAM Rider

PNG-West Division

REGULATORY TIMETABLE