Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

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

and

Applications for Participant Assistance/Cost Awards

in the FortisBC Energy Inc.

Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity Application

for the Lower Mainland Intermediate Pressure System Upgrade Projects

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

                                N. E. MacMurchy, Commissioner                                  November 6, 2015

                                K. A. Keilty, Commissioner

                                H. G. Harowitz, Commissioner

                                I. F. MacPhail, Commissioner

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.    On December 19, 2014, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) submitted an Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) pursuant to sections 45 and 46 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) to construct and operate two replacement pipeline segments in the Lower Mainland near Vancouver, BC (Application). FEI also sought Commission approval pursuant to sections 59-61 of the UCA for deferral treatment and amortization of Application and project development costs. On April 30, 2015, FEI filed an evidentiary update revising the scope of the Application;

B.    The Application and evidentiary update were reviewed through two rounds of Commission and intervener information requests, a Panel information request, and written argument;

C.    The 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 et al.), the Canadian Pipeline Advisory Council, residents of Highlawn Drive, the City of Burnaby and the Commercial Energy Consumers Association of BC (CEC) registered as interveners. BCOAPO submitted its Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) budget on January 26, 2015 and CEC submitted its PACA budget on January 27, 2015. No other interveners submitted PACA budgets;

D.    BCOAPO submitted its application for PACA funding to the Commission on August 17, 2015 and CEC submitted its application for PACA funding on September 1, 2015. No other interveners submitted applications for PACA funding;

E.    On September 1, 2015 and September 11, 2015, respectively, FEI responded to BCOAPO et al. and CEC’s applications for PACA funding. FEI submitted that, so long as the Commission has no concerns with the time identified or the amount applied for, FEI has no comment; and

F.     On October 26, 2015, the Commission issued Order F-28-15 approving payment of the amounts in the PACA applications received from BCOAPO et al. and CEC;

G.    On October 27, 2015, BCOAPO et al. submitted a revised PACA application removing GST from their consultant’s invoice and commensurately reducing their PACA application;

H.    On November 4, 2015, FEI advised that it had no comment on BCOAPO et al.’s revised application; and

I.     The Commission has reviewed the PACA applications and comments from FEI with regard to the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines and concluded that PACA funding should be awarded.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to sections 99 and 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the British Columbia Utilities Commission:

1.    Rescinds Order F-28-15.

2.    Approves Participant Assistance Cost Awards in the following amounts with respect to their participation in the FortisBC Energy Inc. Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity Application for the Lower Mainland Intermediate Pressure System Upgrade Project:

2.    FortisBC Energy Inc. is directed to reimburse the above participants for the respective amounts that have been awarded in a timely manner.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this         6^th          day of November 2015.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                            Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                D. A. Cote

                                                                                                                                Commissioner