ORDER NUMBER
G-243-18
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Energy Inc.
Rate Schedule 46 – Liquefied Natural Gas Sales, Dispensing and Transportation Service
Application for Interim Rates effective January 1, 2019
BEFORE:
B. A. Magnan
Commissioner
on December 14, 2018
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On November 27, 2018, pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for approval, on an interim basis, of the existing Rate Schedule 46 (RS 46) Table of Charges for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Transportation Service and Table of Charges for LNG Service (collectively the Tables of Charges), effective January 1, 2019 (Application);
B. On December 12, 2013, the BCUC issued Order G-211-13 approving RS 46, in accordance with Order in Council (OIC) 557, B.C. Regulation 245/2013, deposited November 28, 2013, issuing Direction No. 5 to the BCUC, and effective December 12, 2013;
C. On December 24, 2014, the BCUC issued Order G-207-14, effective January 1, 2015, approving amendments to RS 46 and Direction No. 5, in accordance with OIC 749, B.C. Regulation 265/2014, and deposited December 22, 2014;
D. On May 4, 2017, the BCUC issued Order G-65-17, effective May 4, 2017, approving further amendments to RS 46 and Direction No. 5, in accordance with section 5 (1.2) of OIC 162, B.C. Regulation 115/2017, and 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 RS 46 Tables of Charges be made interim, effective January 1, 2019, until FEI can calculate revisions to the rates in the Tables of Charges and prepare the revised tariff pages for BCUC endorsement, expected to occur on or before January 31, 2019; and
G. The BCUC has reviewed FEI’s Application and finds that approval is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to Direction No. 5 and sections 89 of the UCA, the BCUC orders as follows:
1. FEI’s existing RS 46 Table of Charges is extended and made interim, effective January 1, 2019.
2. FEI must file an application for permanent rates on or before January 31, 2019.
3. Any variance between the interim rates and the permanent rates, as determined by the BCUC, are subject to refund/recovery with interest at the average prime rate of FEI’s principal bank for its most recent year.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 14th day of December 2018.
BY ORDER
Original Signed by:
B. A. Magnan
Commissioner