ORDER NUMBER
G-176-16
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
Stargas Utilities Ltd.
Application to Vary Delivery Rate, Amend Cost of Service Formula and
Approve Replacement Term Financing/Redemption of Preferred Shares
BEFORE:
R. I. Mason, Panel Chair/Commissioner
D. M. Morton, Commissioner
on December 1, 2016
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On September 26, 2016, Stargas Utilities Ltd. (Stargas) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) for, among other things, interim and permanent approval of a $0.45 per gigajoule delivery rate decrease for all customers, effective November 1, 2016 (Application);
B. The Application also requests the approval of replacement term financing, the redemption of $100,000 of preferred shares, amendments to the cost of service formula and an increase to the rates for management services;
C. On October 6, 2016, Commission Order G-155-16 established a Regulatory Timetable for review of the Application, which provided for one round of information requests with further process to be determined;
D. On October 13, 2016, Silver Star Property Owners Association (SSPOA) registered as an intervener in the proceeding;
E. In a letter dated November 24, 2016, the Commission Panel requested that the applicant and registered interveners provide submissions by Wednesday, November 30, 2016, regarding their interest in attending a Streamlined Review Process (SRP), taking place on the afternoon of December 14, 2016;
F. On November 25, 2016 and November 28, 2016 respectively, Stargas and SSPOA confirmed their attendance at the proposed December 14, 2016 SRP;
G. By letter dated November 29, 2016, Stargas sought advanced approval from the Commission on matters relating to the proposed replacement term financing; and
H. The Commission has reviewed the submissions from SSPOA and Stargas and determined that a Streamlined Review Process is appropriate to review the Application.
NOW THEREFORE the British Columbia Utilities Commission orders a Streamlined Review Process to be held on Wednesday, December 14, 2016, commencing at 1:00 p.m. at the Commission Hearing Room on the 12th Floor, 1125 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC. Detailed instructions for the Streamlined Review Process are attached as Appendix A.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 1st day of December 2016.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
R. I. Mason
Commissioner
Attachment
Stargas Utilities Ltd.
Application to Vary Delivery Rate, Amend Cost of Service Formula and
Approve Replacement Term Financing/Redemption of Preferred Shares
STREAMLINED REVIEW PROCESS
By Order G-176-16 on December 1, 2016, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) established a streamlined review process (SRP) for the Stargas Utilities Ltd. application to vary delivery rate, amend cost of service formula, and approve replacement term financing/redemption of preferred shares (Application).
GENERAL DIRECTIONS
• The Streamlined Review Process (SRP) will commence at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 on the 12th Floor, 1125 Howe Street, Vancouver. Parties who have pre-arranged video/teleconference capabilities must test their connections prior to the commencement of the SRP.
• The scope of this proceeding is limited to the Application and will not address issues surrounding Stargas’ commodity rates.
• As set out in the SPR Policy, Guidelines and Procedures[1], participation in the SRP includes the applicant, registered interveners and Commission staff.
• Parties attending the SRP must also be prepared to address Stargas’ request contained in the November 29, 2016 letter (Exhibit B-6).
• Parties may provide written questions to Stargas prior to the SRP through the Commission’s e-filing system, if doing so would provide for a more efficient process. Stargas is expected to address these and any other questions during the SRP.
PROCEDURE DURING SESSIONS
The SRP will proceed in the following order:
1. The Panel Chair will make an opening statement and comment on procedural matters for the day.
2. The participants will register their appearances. At the commencement, Stargas is invited to provide a brief overview of the Application.
3. Participants may ask questions of Stargas at the conclusion of the presentation. Questions of clarification may be asked during the presentation, as necessary. When asking questions participants should first identify themselves for the record and then ask their question.
4. The SRP is designed to combine the essential elements of a workshop, oral hearing and information requests in one efficient process. Although a verbatim transcript of the discussions will be taken by Allwest Reporting Ltd., all parties may engage the process in an informal yet respectful manner.
This SRP serves as a second round of interrogatories and discussions. The Commission Panel will make further determinations on process subsequent to the adjournment of the SRP.
If you have any questions or concerns about the process, please contact Ms. Suzanne Sue, Suzanne.Sue@bcuc.com, or 604-660-4700, BC Toll Free: 1-800-663-1385.