ORDER NUMBER
F-8-16
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Energy Inc.
Application for Acceptance of the Biomethane Purchase Agreement Between
FortisBC Energy Inc. and the City of Surrey and Approval of the Monthly Facility Fee
Participant Assistance/Cost Awards
BEFORE:
R. D. Revel, Panel Chair/Commissioner
on April 6, 2016
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On November 24, 2015, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) for acceptance of an executed Biomethane Purchase Agreement between FEI and the City of Surrey dated September 16, 2015 (Agreement) and for approval of a Monthly Facilities Fee as set forth in Schedule D of the Agreement (Application);
B. By Orders G-186-15 and G-3-16, the Commission established a written public hearing process and regulatory timetable for the Application;
C. On January 19, 2016, FEI filed with the Commission an Amending Agreement with the City of Surrey dated January 19, 2016;
D. On February 29, 2016, by Order E-3-16 with Decision issued concurrently, the Commission approved the Agreement as amended by the Amending Agreement dated January 19, 2016 and the Monthly Facilities Fee.
E. The following participants filed Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) applications with the Commission with respect to their participation in the Application:
|
DATE |
PARTICIPANT |
REQUEST |
|
February 9, 2016 |
BC Sustainable Energy Association and the Sierra Club of British Columbia |
$4,627.35 |
|
March 2, 2016 |
Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia |
$10,213.88 |
|
March 4, 2016 |
British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. |
$3,967.00 |
F. By letter dated March 24, 2016, FEI stated that it had reviewed the PACA applications and noted the disparity between the amounts requested from the parties but so long as the Commission has no concerns with the time identified or the amounts applied for, FEI had no comment; and
G. The Commission reviewed the PACA applications and the FEI submission with regard to the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines and concludes that the requested cost award amounts are proportionate to the work completed by the participants.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission orders as follows:
1. Participant Assistance/Cost Awards in the following amounts with respect to their participation in the FortisBC Energy Inc. Application for Acceptance of the Biomethane Purchase Agreement between FortisBC Energy Inc. and the City of Surrey and Approval of the Monthly Facility Fee:
|
PARTICIPANT |
AWARD |
|
BC Sustainable Energy Association and the Sierra Club of British Columbia |
$4,627.35 |
|
Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia |
$10,213.88 |
|
British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. |
$3,967.00 |
|
TOTAL |
$18,808.23 |
2. FortisBC Energy Inc. is directed to reimburse the above-noted participants for the awarded amounts in a timely manner.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 6th day of April 2016.
BY ORDER
Original Signed By:
R. D. Revel
Panel Chair/Commissioner