ORDER NUMBER
G-79-17
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Inc.
Application for a Community Solar Pilot Project
BEFORE:
R. D. Revel, Panel Chair/Commissioner
W. M. Everett, QC, Commissioner
D. A. Cote, Commissioner
on May 19, 2017
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On April 26, 2017, FortisBC Inc. (FBC) filed, pursuant to section 44.2 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), an application seeking acceptance of a capital expenditure schedule relating to the proposed Community Solar Pilot Project (the Ellison Solar Project);
B. FBC also requests approval of the solar Rate Schedules 85A and 85B;
C. FBC proposes to construct and operate a 240 kilowatt solar array composed of 720 solar panels, on land it currently owns adjacent to its Ellison Substation;
D. FBC estimates the capital cost of the Ellison Solar Project to be $960,744 and proposes to include the capital costs of the project within its 2017 formula capital spending envelope from its 2014–2019 Performance-Based Ratemaking (PBR) plan;
E. Rate Schedule 85A is a Virtual Solar Rate which, if approved, would allow FBC to offer customers, for a fee, the measured output of solar panels from a defined solar generation resource. The proposed fee for panels from the Ellison Solar Project is $6.75 per panel per month;
F. Rate Schedule 85B is a Solar Offset Rate which, if approved, would allow FBC to offer customers the option to offset a portion of their electricity consumption with solar generation from a defined solar generation resource. The proposed rate for the Ellison Solar Project is $0.231 per kilowatt-hour;
G. On May 8, 2017, pursuant to Order G-66-17, the Commission established a regulatory timetable for the initial review of the application which included a May 16, 2017 deadline for intervener registration with further process to be determined. Subsequently, six interveners registered by the required date; and
H. The Commission has considered the application and intervener registrations and finds that a procedural conference is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders the regulatory timetable to be continued as set out in Appendix A to this order.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 19th day of May, 2017.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
R. D. Revel
Commissioner
Attachment
FortisBC Inc.
Application for a Community Solar Pilot Project
REGULATORY TIMETABLE
|
Action |
Date (2017) |
|
Procedural Conference commencing at 9:00 a.m.* |
Thursday, June 1 |
|
Further process to be determined |
|
*Location: Commission Hearing Room
12th Floor, 1125 Howe Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 2K8