Orders

ORDER NUMBER

F-22-16

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

FortisBC Energy Inc.

2015 System Extension Application

BEFORE:

K. A. Keilty, Panel Chair/Commissioner

I. F. MacPhail, Commissioner

D. M. Morton, Commissioner

on September 16, 2016

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On June 30, 2015, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) for approval of changes to its mains extension test (MX Test), customer connection policies and related reporting requirements (Application);

B.      The Application was reviewed through two rounds of Commission and intervener information requests, written arguments, one round of Panel information requests, and supplemental written arguments;

C.      Ten interveners registered for this proceeding:

•         Commercial Energy Consumers Association of BC;

•         British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority;

•         British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organizations et al.;

•         BC Sustainable Energy Association and the Sierra Club of British Columbia;

•         Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.;

•         Peace River Regional District Electoral Area B;

•         Linda Larson, MLA Boundary Similkameen;

•         Vancouver Island Economic Alliance;

•         Regional District of the Okanagan Similkameen Electoral Area B; and

•         Seabird Island Band;

D.      On September 15, 2016, by Order G-147-16 with decision issued concurrently, the Commission approved changes to FEI’s mains extension test, customer connection policies and related reporting requirements;

E.       The following participants filed Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) applications, and, following Panel information request responses, filed revised and supplemental PACA applications with the Commission with respect to their participation in the proceeding:

F.       By letter dated June 20, 2016, FEI provided its comments on the revised and supplemental PACA applications, stating it has reviewed the revised and supplemental PACA applications, and so long as the Commission has no concerns with the time identified or the amounts applied for, FEI has no comment; and

G.     The Commission has reviewed the PACA applications in accordance with the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines, attached to Commission Order G-72-07, and concludes that the cost awards should be approved.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission orders as follows:

1.       Funding is awarded to the following interveners in the listed amounts for their participation in the FortisBC Energy Inc. 2015 System Extension Application proceeding:

2.       FortisBC Energy Inc. is directed to reimburse the above-noted participants for the awarded amount in a timely manner.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this          16th           day of September 2016.

BY ORDER

Original Signed By

K. A. Keilty

Commissioner