ORDER NUMBER
G-196-18
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
Stargas Utilities Ltd.
Application to Vary Commodity Rates
BEFORE:
B. A. Magnan, Commissioner
D. J. Enns, Commissioner
on October 11, 2018
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On September 18, 2018, Stargas Utilities Ltd.
(Stargas) submitted an application to the British Columbia Utilities Commission
(BCUC) for approval to decrease the commodity component of rates from $4.14 per
gigajoule (GJ) to $3.98 per GJ effective November 1, 2018 (Application). The Application also includes details of
Stargas’ Purchase Plan, which is filed on a confidential basis, for the
contract year commencing
November 1, 2018;
B. By Order G-159-17 dated October 19, 2017, the BCUC approved a decrease in the gas commodity component of rates charged to Stargas customers from $5.28 to $4.14, effective November 1, 2017;
C. In the Application, Stargas reports the Gas Cost Variance Account balance as of May 31, 2018, the end of the last fiscal year, is a surplus of $29,820. The requested rate decrease accounts for the refund of the $29,820 surplus and also reflects forecast gas purchase costs for the 2018/19 fiscal year;
D. The BCUC reviewed the Application and finds the proposed commodity rate change is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE the BCUC pursuant to section 61(4) of the Utilities Commission Act orders as follows:
1. The BCUC approves the decrease of the gas commodity component of rates charged to Stargas customers from $4.14/GJ to $3.98/GJ effective November 1, 2018.
2. Stargas must include an explanation of the commodity component rate change to customers in its next monthly billing.
3. Stargas must file a report with the BCUC by October 1, 2019 on the Gas Cost Variance Account balances and, if necessary, proposed changes to commodity rates to be effective November 1, 2019.
4. The forecast commodity cost details filed in the Application will be kept confidential due to their commercially sensitive nature.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 11th day of October 2018.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
B. A. Magnan
Commissioner