Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-171-18

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

FortisBC Energy Inc.

Application for Approval of 2019-2020 Revenue Requirements and Rates

for the Fort Nelson Service Area

 

BEFORE:

A. K. Fung, QC, Panel Chair/Commissioner

B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

 

on September 13, 2018

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On September 4, 2018, pursuant to sections 45, 46, 59 to 61 and 89 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) submitted to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) its 2019 – 2020 Revenue Requirements and Rates Application for the Fort Nelson service area, seeking, among other things, BCUC approval of delivery rates for 2019 and 2020 (Application);

B.      FEI forecasts a revenue deficiency of $101 thousand in 2019 and a further revenue deficiency of $180 thousand in 2020, which results in a delivery rate increase of approximately 4.37 percent in 2019 and a further delivery rate increase of approximately 8.24 percent in 2020;

C.      In the Application, FEI seeks approval of an interim, refundable delivery rate increase of 4.37 percent, effective January 1, 2019, and approval of an interim Revenue Stabilization Adjustment Mechanism (RSAM) Rate Rider of $0.199 per GJ, effective January 1, 2019. FEI also seeks approval of, among other things, a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for an extension of FEI’s distribution system in the Fort Nelson service area, resulting from its purchase of the gas distribution assets of the Prophet River First Nation;

D.      FEI proposes a written hearing process for the review of the Application; and

E.       The BCUC considers the establishment of a regulatory timetable for the review of the Application and the setting of interim rates effective January 1, 2019 to be warranted.

 

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 89 of the UCA, the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       An interim, refundable delivery rate increase of 4.37 percent and a RSAM rate rider set at $0.199 per GJ, effective January 1, 2019, are approved in the Fort Nelson service area.

2.       FEI is directed to refund/recover any differences between the interim and permanent rates, following the final disposition of the Application, with interest calculated at the average prime rate of FEI’s principal bank for its most recent year.

3.       In accordance with the terms of this order, FEI is directed to file amended tariff pages for the Fort Nelson service area within 30 days of the issuance of this order.

4.       A written public hearing process is established for the review of the Application, in accordance with the regulatory timetable set out in Appendix A to this order (Regulatory Timetable).

5.       By no later than September 28, 2018, FEI is to publish the Public Notice attached as Appendix B to this order, in display-ad format, in the appropriate local news publications to provide adequate notice to the public in the Fort Nelson service area.

6.       As soon as reasonably possible, FEI is directed to publish the Application, this order and the Regulatory Timetable on its website, as well as electronically where possible, to all parties who participated in the Fort Nelson 2017 – 2018 Revenue Requirements and Rates Application proceeding.

7.       Interveners who wish to participate in this regulatory proceeding are to register with the BCUC by completing a Request to Intervene Form, available on the BCUC’s website at http://www.bcuc.com/get-involved/get-involved-proceeding.html, by the date established in the Regulatory Timetable, and in accordance with the BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure attached to Order G-1-16.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this           13^th           day of September 2018.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original Signed by:

 

A.K. Fung, QC

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

 

 

FortisBC Energy Inc.

Application for Approval of 2019-2020 Revenue Requirements and Rates

for the Fort Nelson Service Area

 

 

 

On September 4, 2018, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), pursuant to section(s) 45, 46, and 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act, for approval of its 2019 and 2020 Revenue Requirements and rates application for the Fort Nelson service area, seeking, among other things, BCUC approval to increase delivery rates (Application). FEI is seeking a delivery rate increase of 4.37 percent effective January 1, 2019, and a further delivery rate increase of 8.24 percent effective January 1, 2020, for the Fort Nelson service area.

 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE There are a number of ways to participate in a matter before the BCUC: •         Submit a letter of comment •         Register as an interested party •         Request intervener status   For more information, or to find the forms for any of the options above, please visit our website or contact us at the information below. http://www.bcuc.com/forms/request-to-intervene.aspx

All submissions received, including letters of comment, are placed on the public record, posted on the BCUC’s website and provided to the Panel and all participants in the proceeding. NEXT STEPS Intervener registration: Persons who are directly or sufficiently affected by the BCUC’s decision or have relevant information or expertise and that wish to actively participate in the proceeding can request intervener status by submitting a completed Request to Intervene Form by Wednesday, October 10, 2018

 

GET MORE INFORMATION
All documents filed on the public record are available on the “Current Proceedings” page of the BCUC’s website at www.bcuc.com.   If you would like to review the material in hard copy, or if you have any other inquiries, please contact Patrick Wruck, Commission Secretary, at the following contact information.	British Columbia Utilities Commission Suite 410, 900 Howe Street Vancouver, BC Canada  V6Z 2N3   E: Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com   P: 604.660.4700