ORDER NUMBER
G-14-18
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Energy Inc.
Rate Schedule 46 – Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Sales, Dispensing and Transportation Service
Application for Interim Rates effective January 1, 2018
BEFORE:
B. A. Magnan, Commissioner
on January 18, 2018
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On November 24, 2017, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission), pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), for the existing Rate Schedule 46 Table of Charges for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Transportation Service and Table of Charges for LNG Service (collectively the Tables of Charges) to be made interim, effective January 1, 2018 (Application);
B. On December 12, 2013, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) issued Order G-211-13 approving Rate Schedule 46 and Direction No. 5 to the Commission, effective December 12, 2013, in accordance with Order in Council (OIC) 557, B.C. Regulation 245/2013, deposited November 28, 2013, and Direction No. 5 to the Commission;
C. On December 24, 2014, the Commission issued Order G-207-14, effective January 1, 2015, approving amendments to Rate Schedule 46, in accordance with OIC 749, B.C. Regulation 265/2014, deposited December 22, 2014 and amendments to Direction No. 5;
D. On May 4, 2017, the Commission issued Order G-65-17, effective May 4, 2017, approving further amendments to Rate Schedule 46 and amendments to Direction No. 5, in accordance with section 5 (1.2) of OIC 162, B.C. Regulation 115/2017, deposited March 22, 2017;
E. Certain charges contained in the Tables of Charges are to be reviewed on an annual basis and adjusted as required, using the greater of two percent or British Columbia Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for the period of November of the prior year to November of the current year, which is not available until late December;
F. Due to the timing of the release of CPI November data, FEI requests that existing rates for Rate Schedule 46 Tables of Charges be made interim, effective January 1, 2018, until such time as FEI can calculate revisions to the rates in the Tables of Charges and prepare the revised tariff pages for Commission endorsement, expected to occur on or before January 31, 2018;
G. The Commission has reviewed FEI’s Application and finds that approval of the Application is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to Special Direction No. 5 and sections 89 of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission orders as follows:
1. FortisBC Energy Inc.’s existing Rate Schedule 46 Table of Charges are made interim, effective January 1, 2018.
2. FortisBC Energy Inc. must file an application for permanent rates on or before January 31, 2018.
3. Any variance between the interim rates and the permanent rates as determined by the Commission are subject to refund/recovery, with interest at the average prime rate of FortisBC Energy Inc.’s principal bank for its most recent year.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 18th day of January 2018.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
B. A. Magnan
Commissioner