Orders

ORDER NUMBER

F-18-18

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

FortisBC Energy Inc.

2016 Rate Design Application

Participant Assistance/Cost Award Application

BEFORE:

K. A. Keilty, Commissioner/Panel Chair

W. M. Everett QC, Commissioner

D. J. Enns, Commissioner

on August 2, 2018

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On December 19, 2016, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) filed its 2016 Rate Design Application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) and on February 2, 2017, FEI submitted a supplemental filing which included FEI’s rate design for the Fort Nelson Service Area as well as FEI’s revisions to its rate schedules based on its proposals (Application);

B.      FEI sought the necessary approvals, pursuant to sections 58 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), to adjust the rate design for its rate schedules and to amend the terms and conditions of service for all service areas effective the fourth quarter of 2018;

C.      By Orders G-6-17, G-30-17, G-109-17 and G-5-18 dated January 20, 2017, March 2, 2017, July 18, 2017 and January 9, 2018, respectively, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for a public hearing process for the review of the Application. The Application was broken down into the following three key areas, each of which was addressed separately:

                                i.      The Cost of Service Allocation studies, the revenue to cost (R:C) ratios and the corresponding range of reasonableness;

                              ii.      FEI’s Transportation Service Review (Chapter 10 in the Application); and

                            iii.      The rate design proposals and remaining topics;

D.      The review process included workshops, reports submitted by an independent consultant, written information requests to the independent consultant, written information requests to FEI, Streamlined Review Processes and written and oral arguments;

E.       FEI’s final argument and Intervener final arguments were submitted on March 27, 2018 and April 10, 2018, respectively, followed by FEI’s reply argument on April 24, 2018;

F.       On July 20, 2018, the BCUC issued decision and Order G-135-18 regarding FEI’s 2016 Rate Design Application;

G.      In this proceeding thirteen parties registered as interveners. Page 2 of the Decision lists each of the thirteen, which include British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO); B.C. Sustainable Energy Association and Sierra Club of B.C. (BCSEA); Industrial Customer Group (ICG) and Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC);

H.      The following interveners filed Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) applications with the BCUC with respect to their participation in the proceeding:

I.        By letter dated June 20, 2018, FEI provided its comments on the PACA applications, stating that it has no further comments if the BCUC is satisfied that the participants have met the eligibility requirements, that the funding days claimed is appropriate, and that the level of participation has met with the BCUC’s criteria and requirements; and

J.        The BCUC has reviewed the PACA applications in accordance with the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines, attached to BCUC Order G-97-17, and concludes that the cost awards should be approved.

 NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       Funding is awarded to the following interveners in the listed amounts for their participation in the FortisBC Energy Inc. 2016 Rate Design Application proceeding:

2.       FEI 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           2^nd         day of August 2018.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

K. A. Keilty

Commissioner