ORDER NUMBER
G-64-16
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Energy Inc.
Application
for Approval of Expenditures for the Expanded Compressed Natural Gas
Fueling Station for Waste Management of Canada Corporation
BEFORE:
K. A. Keilty, Commissioner
on May 11, 2016
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On March 26, 2015, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission), pursuant to sections 44.2 and 59–61 and 89 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), for approval of expenditures of $544,855 to upgrade the Waste Management station (2014 Upgrade), and for interim and permanent approval of the rate design and rates established in the proposed Waste Management of Canada Corporation (Waste Management) Amending Agreement, effective February 1, 2015 (Application);
B. By Order G-128-11 dated July 19, 2011, the Commission approved, among other things, a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling service agreement between FEI and Waste Management in final form as a tariff supplement (Waste Management Agreement). By Order G-128-11, the Commission also accepted, pursuant to section 44.2 of the UCA, expenditures of $775,031 for the CNG fueling station located on Waste Management’s premises (Waste Management station) required to provide fueling service to 20 CNG powered vehicles under the Waste Management Agreement;
C. On August 19, 2013, FEI applied to the Commission, pursuant to sections 44.2 and 59–61 of the UCA, for approval of expenditures to upgrade the Waste Management station to accommodate CNG fueling service to an additional 10 CNG powered vehicles. FEI also requested that rate charged to Waste Management remain unchanged;
D. On December 23, 2013, by Order G-229-13, the Commission approved expenditures of up to $112,201 to upgrade the Waste Management station and FEI's request that the rates charged to Waste Management remain unchanged;
E. On July 11, 2014, FEI applied for approval, pursuant to section 44.2 of the UCA, for expenditures of up to $560,000 to accommodate measurement, tracking and invoicing of consumption for eight additional CNG waste hauling trucks allocated to eight owner/operators (2014 Application). FEI also sought Commission approval for the rates charged to Waste Management remain unchanged, pursuant to sections 59-61 of the UCA;
F. On November 10, 2014, by Order G-171-14, the Commission denied the 2014 Application;
G. In the Application, FEI proposes a single, blended new rate, using the inclusive project approach and the parameters referred to in Order G-171-14;
H. By Order G-53-15, the Commission approved the rate design and rates established in the unexecuted Waste Management Amending Agreement (Amending Agreement) for CNG Fueling Service on an interim basis, effective February 1, 2015;
I. On October 14, 2015, FEI filed the executed Amending Agreement between FEI and Waste Management with the Commission;
J. On November 12, 2015, the Commission issued Information Request No. 1 to FEI and FEI responded on November 20, 2015; and
K. The Commission has reviewed and considered the Application and information request and responses and determines that the interim rates should be approved as permanent.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to sections 44.2 and 59–61 of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission orders as follows:
1. The expenditures required for FortisBC Energy Inc. to upgrade the compression and dispensing service, for natural gas, under the Waste Management Amending Agreement, in the amount of $544,855 are accepted.
2. The rate design and rates established in the Waste Management Amending Agreement for compressed natural gas fueling service are approved on a permanent basis, effective February 1, 2015.
3. FortisBC Energy Inc. is to file the Waste Management Amending Agreement in tariff supplement form on a timely basis for endorsement by the Commission.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 11th day of May 2016.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
K. A. Keilty
Commissioner