Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

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

and

FortisBC Energy Inc.

Customer Choice Program Seventh Annual General Meeting

BEFORE:               D.A. Cote, Panel Chair/Commissioner

                                H. Harowitz, Commissioner                                         June 22, 2015

                                I. MacPhail, Commissioner                                          

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.      FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) obtained a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) on August 14, 2006 for the Commodity Unbundling Project for Residential Customers (Customer Choice) in accordance with the government’s 2002 energy policy which would allow for the direct sale of natural gas to residential and small volume commercial customers through gas marketing companies licensed by the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission);

B.      Article 34 of the Code of Conduct for Gas Marketers requires the Commission to hold an Annual General Meeting to discuss program improvements or enhancements. The Annual General Meeting can take place by written or in-person process, as determined by the Commission;

C.      On May 8, 2015, by Order A-3-15, the Commission established a regulatory timetable for the seventh Annual General Meeting. The Commission determined a formal meeting was warranted to address the issues included on the Issues List attached as Appendix B to the Order;

D.      During the meeting, held on June 9, 2015, in Vancouver, British Columbia, participants discussed whether it is appropriate that the FEI account holder’s spouse is included in the Code of Conduct for Gas Marketers as a signing authority for residential Consumer Agreements. Commission staff advised participants of their intent to obtain an independent legal opinion on the matter, which would be available for participants’ review and comment prior to the end of the proceeding; and

E.       The Commission has reviewed the in-person meeting transcript and determines additional time is warranted for Interveners’ Final Submissions, to allow sufficient time to review and comment on the independent legal opinion on the issue of spousal authority.

NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders that an amended timetable is established for the remainder of the seventh Customer Choice Program Annual General Meeting, following the Regulatory Timetable attached as Appendix A to this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this               22^nd               day of June 2015.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                                Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                D.A. Cote

                                                                                                                                Panel Chair/Commissioner

Attachment

FortisBC Energy Inc.

2014 Customer Choice Program Seventh Annual General Meeting

REGULATORY TIMETABLE