Orders

ORDER NUMBER

F-1-17

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

FortisBC Inc.

Net Metering Program Tariff Update Application

Participant Assistance/Cost Award Application

BEFORE:

H. G. Harowitz, Panel Chair/Commissioner

R. I. Mason, Commissioner

R. D. Revel, Commissioner

January 4, 2017

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 95 (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 of the Application,

•         Use of a kWh bank to carry forward Net Excess Generation (NEG) for an annual period with compensation at the end of the annual period ending on March 31 of each year, and

•         Compensating customers for that remaining unused NEG at the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority RS 3808 Tranche 1 rate instead of the excess being 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 method 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.      By Orders G-59-16, G-75-16, G-94-16 and G-126-16, the Commission established a written public hearing process for the review of the Application including two rounds of information requests and written final arguments;

E.       On December 29, 2016, the Commission issued Order G-199-16 with accompanying reasons for decision in regard to the Application;

F.       The following participants filed Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) applications with the Commission with respect to their participation in the FBC Net Metering Program Tariff Update Application proceeding:

G.     By letters dated November 18, 2016 and November 22, 2016, FBC submitted its comments on the PACA applications stating that provided the Commission has no concerns with the time identified or the amounts applied for by the interveners, FBC has no comment; 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 concludes 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.       Funding is awarded to the following interveners for their participation in the FortisBC Energy Inc. Net Metering Program Tariff Update 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              4th               day of January 2017.

BY ORDER

Original Signed By:

H. G. Harowitz

Commissioner