Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-94-16

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

FortisBC Inc.

Net Metering Program Tariff Update Application

BEFORE:

H. G. Harowitz, Panel Chair/Commissioner

R. I. Mason, Commissioner

R. D. Revel, Commissioner

on June 20, 2016

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On April 15, 2016, FortisBC Inc. (FBC) filed its Net Metering Program Tariff Update Application (Application) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission);

B.      In the Application, FBC requests approval for:

•         Changes to Rate Schedule (RS) 95 to clarify the intent of the Net Metering Program as described in Section 4 of the Application and reflected in the revised RS 95 tariff contained in Appendix C.

•         Use of a kWh Bank to carry forward Net Excess Generation (NEG) for an annual period with compensation at the end of that annual period.

•         Compensate customers for that remaining unused NEG at the BC Hydro RS 3808 Tranche 1 rate currently priced at 4.303 cents per kWh plus a 5 percent rate rider, instead of valued at rates specified in the applicable Rate Schedule and credited to the customer’s account as a dollar value that contributes to the overall financial standing of the account;

C.      In addition, FBC requests Commission acceptance of its approach to the billing calculation methodology for RS 95. FBC submits this requires no changes to the Tariff or program documentation but will remove the potential for misunderstanding about the application of the Net Metering Tariff schedule;

D.      On May 3, 2016, by way of Order G-59-16, the Commission established a Regulatory Timetable for review of the Application through a written hearing process with one round of information requests;

E.       On May 18, 2016, the Commission received a letter of comment from a group of six FBC net-metering customers from the Kaslo area (Exhibit E-2) asking the Commission to:

•         direct FBC to outline in writing the financial facts for the claims made in the Application prior to the June 8, 2016 deadline for submission of the intervener information requests (IRs);

•         add an oral portion to the hearing after FBC has responded to the first round of information requests; and

•         slow down the hearing process to give them time to prepare appropriate input and consult with other FBC net-metering customers;

F.       On May 26, 2016, by way of Order G-75-16, the Commission amended the Regulatory Timetable to allow for submission on further process after FBC IR responses, with further process to be determined;

G.     On June 17, 2016, FBC submitted a request to amend the Regulatory Timetable with the Commission, seeking a two-week extension to the remaining dates on the Regulatory Timetable established by Order G-59-16 and amended by Order G-75-16;

H.      On June 17, 2016, Mr. Shadrack submitted a letter in response to FBC’s request to amend the Regulatory Timetable; and

I.        The Panel finds that a revision to the Regulatory Timetable is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE, and for the reasons set out in Appendix A to this order, the British Columbia Utilities Commission orders the Regulatory Timetable established by Order G-75-16 is amended and attached as Appendix B to this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this               20th                  day of June 2016.

BY ORDER

Original Signed By:

H. G. Harowitz

Commissioner

Attachment

FortisBC Inc.

Net Metering Program Tariff Update Application

On June 17, 2016, FortisBC Inc. (FBC) filed a letter with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) requesting an amendment to the Regulatory Timetable established by Order G-59-16, as amended by Order G-75-16, for a two-week extension to all the remaining dates. FBC submits that it has received in excess of 270 information requests (IRs), which is significantly more than had been anticipated when the Commission set the Regulatory Timetable in Order G-59-16, as amended by Order G‑75-16. Given the volume of IRs received, FBC submits that a two-week extension to the Regulatory Timetable is reasonable and necessary. FBC proposed a regulatory timetable that includes FBC IR response, letters of comment, and final arguments.

On June 17, 2016, Mr. Andy Shadrack submitted a letter to the Commission in response to FBC’s request for amending the Regulatory Timetable. Mr. Shadrack submits he has no objection to FBC being granted the extension to answer the IRs, but would request that FBC and the interveners be granted until July 20, 2016 to file submissions on further process, in accordance with Commission Order G-75-16.

Commission determination

The Panel grants FBC a two-week extension to respond to Commission and intervener IRs. Also, the Panel agrees to Mr. Shadrack’s request for FBC and interveners to have until July 20, 2016 to file submissions on further process in consideration of the anticipated volume of FBC IR responses. Consistent with the reasons for decision appended to Order G-75-16, the Panel sees value in allowing parties to comment on further process after FBC files its IR responses. The Regulatory Timetable established by Order G-59-16 and amended by Order G-75-16 is further amended and attached as Appendix B to this order.

FortisBC Inc.

Net Metering Program Tariff Update Application

REGULATORY TIMETABLE