IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473
and
Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. and Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd.
Application for Acceptance of the 2015 Consolidated Energy Management
and Efficiency Program Funding Plan
BEFORE: H. G. Harowitz, Panel Chair/Commissioner
B. A. Magnan, Commissioner December 16, 2015
I. F. MacPhail, Commissioner
O R D E R
WHEREAS:
A. On June 26, 2015, Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. and Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. (collectively, PNG) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) an Application for Acceptance of the 2015 Consolidated Energy Management and Efficiency Program Funding Plan (Application), pursuant to section 44.2 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), for acceptance and approval of the following:
i. of demand side measure (DSM) expenditures of up to $67,000 for 2015, up to $400,203 for 2016, up to $362,639 for 2017, and up to $410,424 for 2018;
ii. allowing PNG flexibility in the reallocation of expenditures amongst DSM programs and between program years, subject to the total amount spent by PNG on DSM activities between the date of approval and 2018 not exceeding the total amount of $1.240 million sought in the Application, unless otherwise approved by the Commission;
iii. that all expenditures as set out in the Application be recorded in a rate base regulatory asset deferral account; and
iv. that the amortization period be set at 10 years for all expenditures charged to this regulatory asset deferral account;
B. By Order G-115-15 dated July 7, 2015, the Commission established a written hearing process and a regulatory timetable, with two rounds of information requests to review the Application;
C. In this proceeding, British Columbia Pensioners’ and Seniors’ Organization, Active Support Against Poverty, BC Coalition of People With Disabilities, Counsel of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of BC, and the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre (BCOAPO), and BC Sustainable Energy Association and the Sierra Club of British Columbia (BCSEA), registered as interveners;
D. During the course of the proceeding, information requests were submitted to PNG, and PNG responded to two rounds of information requests;
E. On September 30, 2015, PNG submitted its final argument in which it sought acceptance of the detailed DSM expenditure schedules contained in the Application totalling up to $67,000 for 2015, up to $400,203 for 2016, up to $362,639 for 2017, and up to $410,424 for 2018;
F. On October 9, 2015, BCOAPO and BCSEA submitted their final arguments;
G. On October 19, 2015, PNG submitted its reply argument; and
H. The Commission reviewed the Application and the evidence submitted through the review process.
NOW THEREFORE the British Columbia Utilities Commission, for reasons set out in the decision, orders as follows:
1. Pursuant to section 44.2(3) of the Utilities Commission Act, the Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. and Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. (collectively, PNG) demand side measure (DSM) expenditure schedules in the Application of up to $67,000 for 2015, up to $400,203 for 2016, up to $362,639 for 2017, and up to $410,424 for 2018, are accepted.
2. The Commission approves the flexibility requested by PNG in its Application in the reallocation of expenditures amongst DSM programs and between program years.
3. Establishment of a rate base regulatory asset deferral account to record the accepted DSM expenditures is approved.
4. PNG’s request for a 10 year amortization period of the DSM rate base regulatory asset deferral account, is denied. The amortization period is set at 5 years for all DSM expenditures charged to this rate base regulatory asset deferral account.
5. PNG must comply with all additional determinations and directives as set out in the decision attached to this order.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, In the Province of British Columbia, this 16th day of December 2015.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
H. G. Harowitz
Panel Chair/Commissioner