ORDER NUMBER
F-24-16
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Energy Inc.
Application for its Common Equity Component and Return on Equity for 2016
Participant Assistance/Cost Awards
BEFORE:
K. A. Keilty, Commissioner/Panel Chair
D. A. Cote, Commissioner
N. E. MacMurchy, Commissioner
October 7, 2016
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On October 2, 2015, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) filed an application for its common equity component and return on equity for 2016 (Application) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission);
B. By Order G-177-15 dated November 9, 2015, the Commission established a regulatory proceeding for the review of the Application. The review that took place included two rounds of information requests (IRs) to FEI, filing of intervener evidence, one round of IRs on intervener evidence, a written hearing process on company evidence and an oral hearing on expert evidence;
C. By letter dated February 16, 2016, the Commission advised all parties that a procedural conference was not required and instead sought written submissions on rebuttal evidence, scope of oral evidence, proposed number of witness panels and appropriate allocation of Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) funding;
D. The limited scope oral hearing took place over three days from March 9, 2016 to March 11, 2016. The argument phase took place from April 3, 2016 to April 28, 2016. The argument phase was extended to May 13, 2016 with the admission of an intervener’s sur-reply on the record by Order G-68-16. On August 10, 2016, the Commission issued its decision and its accompanying Order G-129-16;
E. The following participants filed PACA applications with the Commission with respect to their participation in the proceeding:
|
Date |
Participant |
Application |
|
May 26, 2016 |
Commercial Energy Consumers of British Columbia (CEC) |
$54,403.39 |
|
June 1, 2016 |
British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO) |
$8,736.25 |
|
June 11, 2016 |
Industrial Customers Group of FortisBC Inc. (ICG) |
$3,438.85 |
|
June 13, 2016 |
Association of Major Power Customers of British Columbia (AMPC) |
$44,352.00 |
|
June 13, 2016 |
BC Utility Customers[1] expert witness Dr. Booth’s costs (submitted with AMPC’s application) |
$142,307.31 |
F. On June 21, 2016, ICG filed additional supporting documents and on September 22, 2016, AMPC filed a letter of explanation to Commission staff on its expert witness’ invoice;
G. By letter dated July 5, 2016, FEI provided comments to the Commission on the PACA applications. In its letter, FEI commented that ICG should be required to provide the same level of detail and support for their PACA claims as other participants in order to be eligible for and receive a cost award; and
H. 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 determines that the cost awards should be approved.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the British Columbia Utilities Commission orders as follows:
1. The British Columbia Utilities Commission awards funds of $ 249,798.94 to the following interveners for their participation in the FortisBC Energy Inc. Application for its Common Equity Component and Return on Equity for 2016 proceeding:
|
Participant |
Application |
Award |
|
Association of Major Power Customers of British Columbia |
$44,352.00 |
$44,352.00 |
|
BC Utility Customers (expert witness Dr. Booth’s costs) |
$142,307.31 |
$142,307.31 |
|
Total Costs for Association of Major Power Customers of BC |
$186,659.31 |
$186,659.31 |
|
|
|
|
|
British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. |
$8,736.25 |
$8,736.25 |
|
Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia |
$54,403.39 |
$54,403.39 |
|
Industrial Customers Group of FortisBC Inc. |
$3,438.85 |
$0.00 |
|
TOTAL |
$253,237.79 |
$249,798.94 |
2. The Industrial Customers Group of FortisBC Inc.’s application for Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) is denied. Industrial Customers Group of FortisBC Inc. may re-submit its PACA application to the Commission with supporting details for the Panel’s reconsideration of its application.
3. 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 7th day of October 2016.
BY ORDER
Original Signed By:
K. A. Keilty
Commissioner