Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

Application for Participant Assistance/Cost Awards

in the Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd.

Application for Acceptance of the 2015 Resource Plan

BEFORE:               B. A. Magnan, Panel Chair/Commissioner

                                H. G. Harowitz, Commissioner                                    October 8, 2015

                                I. F. MacPhail, Commissioner

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.      On April 17, 2015, Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. [PNG(N.E.)] applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) pursuant to section 44.1 of the Utilities Commission Act  for acceptance of its 2015 Resource Plan application for the Fort St. John, Dawson Creek and Tumbler Ridge distribution systems (the Application);

B.      By Order G-67-15 dated April 29, 2015, the Commission established a written hearing process and a regulatory timetable to review the Application;

C.      The review process included two rounds of written information requests and submissions, and included the participation of the British Columbia Old Age Pensioners' Organization et al. (BCOAPO);

D.      On July 16, 2015, PNG(N.E.) filed its Reply Argument;

E.       On July 24, 2015, BCOAPO filed an application for Participant Assistance Cost Awards (PACA) totalling $4,837.35;

F.       On July 29, 2015 PNG(N.E.) provided comments to the Commission on the PACA Application;

G.     On September 30, 2015, the Commission issued Order G-155-15 with regards to the PNG(N.E.) Application for the 2015 Resource Plan; and

H.      The Commission reviewed the PACA Applications with regard to the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines in Commission Order G-72-07 and considered PNG(N.E.)’s comments.

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission orders as follows:

1.       The British Columbia Old Age Pensioners' Organization et al. (BCOAPO) is awarded funding of $4,837.35 for their participation in the Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. (PNG(N.E.)) 2015 Resource Plan for the Fort St. John, Dawson Creek and Tumbler Ridge distribution systems proceeding.

2.       PNG(N.E.) is directed to reimburse BCOAPO for the amount that has been awarded in a timely manner.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this     8^th         day of October 2015.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                            Original signed by:

B. A. Magnan

                                                                                                                                Panel Chair/Commissioner