Orders

Decision Information

Decision Content

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

FortisBC Energy Inc. and FortisBC Inc.

Directive 148 of FEI 2014-2018 Performance Based Ratemaking Plan

Application Order G-138-14 and Decision –

Rental Apartment Efficiency Program Business Case

 

 

BEFORE:               C. A. Brown, Commissioner

                                H. G. Harowitz, Commissioner                                       September 24, 2015

                                K. A. Keilty, Commissioner

                                D. M. Morton, Commissioner

 

 

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On September 15, 2014, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) issued Order G-138-14 on the FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) 2014-2018 Performance Based Ratemaking (PBR) Application (FEI 2014-2018 PBR Application). In the decision accompanying Order G-138-14, the Commission accepted pursuant to section 44.2 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), FortisBC Energy Utilities’ (FEU) expenditure request for energy efficiency and conservation (EEC) programs for 2014 through 2018 (2014: $34.4 million; 2015: $36.5 million; 2016: $35.8 million; 2017: $35.4 million; 2018: $35.9 million). Order G-138-14 also included the following directives:

 

  • Directive 148: by the end of 2015 and within the existing EEC funding envelope, file with the Commission one or more EEC programs intended specifically to address the unique market barriers to energy efficiency faced by renters, and
  • Directive 151: FEU’s request to transfer funds to new programs not yet identified without pre-approval by the Commission was denied;

 

B.      On December 3, 2014, the Commission issued Order G-186-14 accepting FortisBC Inc.’s (FBC) UCA section 44.2 expenditure request for demand side management (DSM) programs for 2015 and 2016 (2015: $7.3 million; 2016: $7.5 million). The FBC DSM expenditure request included a provision to extend a direct install rental multi-unit residential building (MURB) pilot;

 

C.      On August 12, 2015, FEI and FBC (collectively, FortisBC) filed a joint rental apartment efficiency program (RAP) business case (Filing). The RAP budget from 2015 to 2018 is $3,616,310 for FEI and $676,620 for FBC. Funding is to come from existing EEC/DSM program areas. The joint RAP comprises the following:

 

         Direct Install: direct low-flow install/lighting upgrades in-suite to rental properties for FortisBC electricity and natural gas customers;

         Energy Assessments: provide participants with walkthrough building assessments at no cost to them recommending building-level energy efficiency upgrades; and

         Implementation support: assist participants in moving forward with the energy efficiency recommendations listed on their energy assessment report;

 

D.      On August 24, 2015, the Commission submitted information requests to FortisBC, which FortisBC responded to on September 1, 2015;

 

E.       FEI requests acceptance of the RAP as a new program. FortisBC submits that while FEI energy assessment measures and direct install measures are not unique to the RAP, the RAP specifically targets these measures to property management companies and building owners regardless of tenants’ income. In addition, no other FEI program offers implementation support services;

 

F.       FBC requests acceptance of the RAP as a new program. FortisBC submits that FBC is not currently offering any direct install rental programs or pilots, and that no other FBC program offers implementation support services; and

 

G.      The Commission has considered FortisBC’s request for acceptance of the new RAP and determines that the request is in the public interest.

 

 

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 44.2 of the Utilities Commission Act, the British Columbia Utilities Commission accepts FortisBC Energy Inc.’s and FortisBC Inc.’s new Rental Apartment Efficiency Program, to be funded as set out in the application.

 

 

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

 

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

 

                                                                                                                                Original signed by:

 

D.M. Morton

                                                                                                                                Commissioner

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