Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-4-16

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

Port Alice Gas Inc.

Application for Approval to Increase

the Basic Charge and Facility Charge

BEFORE:

B.A. Magnan, Panel Chair/Commissioner

on January 18, 2016

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On December 7, 2015, Port Alice Gas Inc. (PAG) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) for an order approving an increase in the Basic Charge from $6.00 per month to $0.40 per day (nominally $12.00 per month) and to increase the Facility Charge from $17.32 to $38.90 per cubic meter of propane, effective January 1, 2016 (the Application);

B.      The Application states that the Neucel pulp mill is currently not operating and the prospect of the mill returning to full operation is considered unlikely. As a result, the population of Port Alice has declined from over 1,700 full-time residents to likely less than 700 on December 7, 2015;

C.      The Application also states that the volume of propane sold in 2010 was in excess of 510,000 litres, but in fiscal 2016 the volumes are expected to decline to 275,000 litres or less;

D.      Despite the decline in propane volumes, the Application claims that most of the costs of operating the utility are fixed or increasing and resulted in losses of $6,550 for fiscal 2014 and $10,415 for fiscal 2015. The Application forecasts that without the proposed increases, PAG will be financially unviable;

E.       By way of Order G-211-15 on December 21, 2015, the Commission approved rate changes on an interim and refundable basis effective January 1, 2016; and

F.       The Commission considers establishing a regulatory timetable for the review of the Application through a written proceeding is necessary and in the public interest.

NOW THEREFORE the British Columbia Utilities Commission orders as follows:

1.       The Regulatory Timetable for the review of this Application is established, as set out in Appendix A to this order.

2.       Parties who wish to participate as interveners must register with the Commission by completing a request to intervene form, available on the Commission’s website at http://www.bcuc.com/Registration-Intervener-1.aspx, by the date established in the Regulatory Timetable attached as Appendix A to this order and in accordance with the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this    19^th      day of January 2016.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

B.A. Magnan

Panel Chair/Commissioner

Attachment

Port Alice Gas Inc.

Application for Approval to Increase

the Basic Charge and Facility Charge

REGULATORY TIMETABLE