Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-197-16

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

FortisBC Inc.

2016 Long Term Electric Resource Plan and 2016 Long Term Demand Side Management Plan

BEFORE:

H. G. Harowitz, Panel Chair/Commissioner

D. J. Enns, Commissioner

M. Kresivo, Commissioner

on December 22, 2016

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On November 30, 2016, FortisBC Inc. (FBC) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) pursuant to section 44.1(6) of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) for acceptance of 2016 Long Term Electric Resource Plan (2016 LTERP) and Long Term Demand Side Management Plan (2016 LTDSM Plan), as Volumes 1 and 2, respectively (Application);

B.      The 2016 LTERP presents a long term plan for meeting the forecast peak and energy requirements of FBC customers with demand-side and supply-side resources over the next 20 years. The 2016 LTERP includes a preferred portfolio to meet the long term requirements of FBC customers as well as an action plan that identifies activities that FBC expects to take during the first four years of the 20-year planning horizon;

C.      The 2016 LTDSM Plan includes an assessment of the energy efficiency and conservation potential for FBC customers. It provides FBC with different levels of demand-side resource options to assess along with supply-side resource options in order to address the forecast load-resource balance gaps identified in the 2016 LTERP over the 20-year planning horizon. The 2016 LTDSM Plan also identifies FBC’s preferred DSM scenario for long term planning purposes;

D.      Section 44.1(5) of the UCA provides that the Commission may establish a process to review a long-term resource plan; and

E.       The Commission has determined that a written hearing process for the review of the Application is warranted and considers that a regulatory timetable should be established.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 44.1 of the Utilities Commission Act, the British Columbia Utilities Commission orders as follows:

1.       A written hearing is established for review of the FortisBC Inc. (FBC) 2016 Long Term Electric Resource Plan (2016 LTERP) and 2016 Long Term Demand Side Management Plan (2016 LTDSM Plan). The Regulatory Timetable is set out in Appendix A to this order.

2.       By no later than January 13, 2017, FBC is to publish the Public Notice, attached as Appendix B to this Order, in such local and community newspapers as to provide adequate notice to those parties who may be affected by the plans outlined in FBC’s 2016 LTERP and 2016 LTDSM Plan.

3.       FBC must provide a copy of this Order, as soon as reasonably possible, to the key parties consulted in FBC’s Stakeholder and First Nation Engagement outlined in Section 10 of FBC’s 2016 LTERP.

4.       The 2016 LTERP and 2016 LTDSM Plan, together with any supporting materials, will be available for inspection at FBC Office, Suite 100, 1975 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC V1Y 7V7. The 2016 LTERP and 2016 LTDSM Plan and supporting materials also will be available on the FBC website at www.fortisbc.com and on the Commission website at www.bcuc.com.

5.       Interveners who wish to participate in the regulatory proceeding are to register with the Commission by completing a Request to Intervene Form, available on the Commission’s website at http://www.bcuc.com/Registration-Intervener-1.aspx by January 27, 2017, and in accordance with the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure attached to Order G-1-16.

6.       Participants intending to apply for Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) exceeding $10,000 must file a completed PACA Budget Estimate form by February 17, 2017. PACA applications should be consistent with the Commission’s PACA Guidelines and Order G-143-16. Copies of the PACA Guidelines are available upon request or can be downloaded from the Commission’s website at http://www.bcuc.com.

7.       Interveners intending to file Intervener Evidence must file Notice on Filing Intervener Evidence to the Commission Secretary by April 13, 2017.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this             22^nd          day of December 2016.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

H. G. Harowitz

Commissioner

Attachments

FortisBC Inc.

2016 Long Term Electric Resource Plan and Long Term Demand Side Management Plan

REGULATORY TIMETABLE

On November 30, 2016, FortisBC Inc. (FBC) filed its 2016 Long Term Electric Resource Plan (2016 LTERP) and 2016 Long Term Demand Side Management Plan (LTDSM Plan) for acceptance by the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission), pursuant to section 44.1(6) of the Utilities Commission Act.

Resource planning is intended to facilitate the selection of cost–effective resources that yield the best overall outcome of expected impacts and risks for ratepayers over the long run. The 2016 LTERP presents a long term plan for meeting the forecast peak and energy requirements of FBC customers with demand-side and supply-side resources over the next 20 years and includes an action plan.

The 2016 LTDSM Plan includes an assessment of the energy efficiency and conservation potential for FBC customers.