Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-212-19

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

FortisBC Energy Inc.

Application for Approval of an Operating Agreement

Between the Corporation of the City of Castlegar and FEI

 

BEFORE:

R. I. Mason, Panel Chair

W. M. Everett, QC, Commissioner

B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

 

on September 5, 2019

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On July 11, 2019, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for approval of an operating agreement dated July 5, 2019, entered into between the Corporation of the City of Castlegar (Castlegar) and FEI (the FEI-Castlegar Operating Agreement or Application);

B.      FEI (through predecessor companies Inland Natural Gas Co. Ltd. and BC Gas Utility Ltd.) and the City of Castlegar entered into a franchise agreement, which expired on August 30, 1998;

C.      FEI and Castlegar entered into a franchise agreement dated October 13, 1998, approved by BCUC Order C-17-98, which expired on August 29, 2019;

D.      FEI submits that the FEI-Castlegar Operating Agreement is based on the same terms as the FEI-Kamloops Operating Agreement;

E.       On June 3, 2019, FEI applied to the BCUC for approval to use the FEI-Kamloops Operating Agreement as the basis for comparison in subsequent operating agreement applications with Interior municipalities, and by Order G-176-19, dated July 31, 2019, the Panel established a public hearing process to address FEI’s request;

F.       The BCUC issued interim approval of the FEI-Castlegar Operating Agreement in Order G-170-19, dated July 29, 2019;

G.     By Order G-183-19 dated August 2, 2019, the BCUC deferred making a final determination on the approval of the FEI-Castlegar Operating Agreement until the conclusion of the public hearing process on the use of the FEI-Kamloops Operating Agreement as the basis for comparison in subsequent operating agreements with Interior municipalities;

H.      On August 6, 2019, FEI filed a letter withdrawing the request for approval to use the FEI-Kamloops Operating Agreement as a basis for comparison for operating agreements with Interior municipalities;

I.        By Order G-207-19, dated August 29, 2019, the BCUC dismissed FEI’s application to use the FEI-Kamloops Operating Agreement as a basis for comparison in subsequent operating agreements with Interior municipalities, and rescinded the associated regulatory timetable; and

J.        The Panel has reviewed the Application and considers that a public hearing process is warranted.

 

NOW THEREFORE under section 23(1)(g) of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       A public hearing process and a regulatory timetable is established, as set out in Appendix A to this order.

2.       FEI must publish, no later than Thursday, September 26, 2019, on its website and in display-ad format, the Public Notice attached as Appendix B to this order. Publication should be in such appropriate news publications as may properly provide adequate notice to FEI customers in the City of Castlegar.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this            5^th             day of September 2019.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

R. I. Mason

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

 

 

FortisBC Energy Inc.

Application for Approval of an Operating Agreement

Between the Corporation of the City of Castlegar and FEI

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CASTLEGAR AND FEI

On July 11, 2019, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for approval of a revised operating agreement with the City of Castlegar. The operating agreement between both parties outlines the terms of administering and operating gas distribution facilities within the City of Castlegar.

 

More information on the application can be found at bcuc.com on our “Current Proceedings” page, a hard copy of the application is also available for review at the BCUC’s office and FEI’s head office

 

For more information on getting involved, please visit our website (www.bcuc.com/get-involved) or contact us at the information below.

 

GET MORE INFORMATION
FortisBC Energy Inc. Regulatory Affairs 16705 Fraser Highway Surrey, BC Canada V4N 0E8   E: gas.regulatory.affairs@fortisbc.com   P: 778. 578.3874	British Columbia Utilities Commission Suite 410, 900 Howe Street Vancouver, BC Canada  V6Z 2N3   E: Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com   P: 604.660.4700