IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473
and
Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.
Application for Approval of the Sale of
Interests in the Narrows Inlet Project
BEFORE: C. A. Brown, Commissioner May 28, 2015
K. A. Keilty, Commissioner
D. M. Morton, Commissioner
O R D E R
WHEREAS:
A. On April 23, 2015, Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. (PNG), filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) pursuant to section 52 of the Utilities Commission Act (Act), an application for approval of the December 1, 2014 sale of its entire interest in the Narrows Inlet Project, including all Narrows Inlet Limited Partnership (NILP) partnership units, NILP’s general partner Narrows Inlet GP Inc. (NIGP) shares, and Stl’xwim First Project Corp. (SFPC) shares (Application);
B. Section 52 of the Act requires that “Except for a disposition of its property in the ordinary course of business, a public utility must not, without first obtaining the Commission’s approval, dispose of or encumber the whole or a part of its property…”;
C. Property is not defined in the Act as utility property therefore the disposition of non-utility property is also covered by section 52 of the Act;
D. In the Application, PNG states that the disposition of its interests in the non-utility assets NILP, NIGP, and SFPC, will not affect PNG’s ability to continue to provide service to its utility customers on the same terms and conditions as it had prior to the sale and there will be no detrimental impact on the level of services provided by PNG; and
E. The Commission reviewed the Application and considers that an after-the fact assessment is required and approval is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 52 of the Utilities Commission Act, the British Columbia Utilities Commission approves the disposition by Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. of its stated interests in the Narrows Inlet Project.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 3rd day of June 2015.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
D. Morton
Commissioner