Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

FortisBC Energy Inc. and FortisBC Inc.

Multi-Year Performance Based Ratemaking Plans for 2014 through 2019

Approved by Decision and Orders G-138-14 and G-139-14

Capital Exclusion Criteria under PBR – Compliance Filing

Participant Assistance/Cost Award

BEFORE:               D. M. Morton, Panel Chair/Commissioner

                                D. A. Cote, Commissioner                                                            October 15, 2015

                                N. E. MacMurchy, Commissioner

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.      On September 14, 2014, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) issued Orders G-138-14 and G-139-14 for FortisBC Inc. and FortisBC Energy Inc. (together, FortisBC) approving the Performance Based Ratemaking Plans (PBR Plans) for 2014 through 2019 (FEI Decision and FBC Decision);

B.      On pages 180 to 181 of the FEI Decision, and pages 174 to 175 of the FBC Decision, the Commission requested submissions from all parties on issues related to capital projects and the criteria to determine whether they should be excluded from the capital spending formulas in the PBR Plans;

C.      On December 19, 2014, the Commission issued Order G-203-14 establishing the regulatory timetable for the submissions;

D.      The British Columbia Public Interest Advocacy Centre representing the British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al (BCOAPO et al.); the Commercial Class Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC); and the Industrial Customers Group (ICG) submitted Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) budgets and applications for their participation in the proceeding;

E.       On September 10, 2015, the Commission issued Order F-21-15 approving PACA funding for BCOAPO et al., and CEC to be reimbursed by FortisBC Inc. and FortisBC Energy Inc., in equal amounts. The Commission requested additional information from ICG;

F.       On September 23, 2015, the ICG provided responses to the Commissions information requests;

G.     Commission Order G-72-07 established Guidelines for PACA applications;

H.      By letter dated August 24, 2015, FortisBC stated that it “has reviewed the PACA applications, and so long as the Commission has no concerns with the time identified or the amounts applied for, FortisBC has no comment”; and

I.        Pursuant to the PACA Guidelines, the Panel determines the entitlement to a full or partial award taking into account the criteria in the Guidelines, the information provided by the participant and variances in estimates provided. The Commission is satisfied that ICG should receive a participant assistance cost award to recover costs for its contribution to the proceeding.

NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:

1.       Pursuant to section 118 (1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission awards funds in the following amounts which are inclusive of taxes to the Industrial Customers Group (ICG) for their participation in this proceeding:

2.       FortisBC Inc. and FortisBC Energy Inc. are directed to reimburse the ICG for the amounts that have been awarded in a timely manner.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this              15^th            day of October, 2015.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                D. M. Morton

                                                                                                                                Panel Chair/Commissioner