Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-241-19

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

FortisBC Energy Inc. and FortisBC Inc.

Application for Approval of a Multi-Year Rate Plan for the Years 2020 through 2024

BEFORE:

D. A. Cote, Panel Chair

A. K. Fung, QC, Commissioner

K. A. Keilty, Commissioner

E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner

on October 8, 2019

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On March 11, 2019, FortisBC Energy Inc. and FortisBC Inc. (collectively, FortisBC) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for approval of a proposed Multi-Year Rate Plan for the years 2020 through 2024, pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (Application);

B.      The Application seeks approval of a rate-setting framework for FortisBC for the upcoming five years, including, among other things, incentive mechanisms, an innovation fund, a forecast of capital expenditures and service quality indicators. The Application also seeks approval of deferral accounts, updated depreciation rates, capitalization rates and other supporting studies;

C.      By Order G-64-19 dated March 20, 2019, the BCUC established a public hearing process for the review of the Application which included, among other things, a workshop on key elements of the Application, BCUC and intervener information request (IR) no. 1, FortisBC responses to IR no. 1 and a procedural conference to be held on July 9, 2019;

D.      On July 3, 2019, the BCUC issued a letter identifying several procedural matters to be addressed at the procedural conference;

E.       By letter dated July 8, 2019, FortisBC provided initial comments on the procedural matters set out in the BCUC’s letter (Pre-filed Comments);

F.       In accordance with the regulatory timetable established by Order G-64-19, the procedural conference took place on July 9, 2019 and was attended by FortisBC and the following interveners:

•         British Columbia Municipal Electrical Utilities;

•         British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al.;

•         British Columbia Sustainable Energy Association;

•         Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia;

•         Movement of United Professionals; and

•         Industrial Customers Group;

G.     By Order G-156-19 dated July 15, 2019, the BCUC established a further regulatory timetable for the review of the Application;

H.      By letter dated September 25, 2019, the BCUC confirmed that the regulatory timetable with intervener evidence, as set out in Order G-156-19 would be followed;

I.        By letter dated September 30, 2019, FortisBC requested an amendment to the regulatory timetable established by Order G-156-19 to advance the date for the procedural conference, currently scheduled for Wednesday, December 4, 2019. FortisBC stated that the current date of the procedural conference leaves little time between a decision on the need for and scope of a potential oral component of the proceeding, and the placeholder dates for that oral component, if required. FortisBC submitted that this will impact the ability of all parties to prepare for a potential hearing and for FortisBC in particular to finalize and prepare its witness panels; and

J.        The BCUC has reviewed FortisBC’s requested amendment and considers that an amendment to the regulatory timetable is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE, the BCUC amends the regulatory timetable established by Order G-156-19. The amended regulatory timetable for the review of the Application is attached as Appendix A to this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this    8^th        day of October 2019.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

D. A. Cote

Commissioner

Attachment

FortisBC Energy Inc. and FortisBC Inc.

Application for Approval of a Multi-Year Rate Plan for the Years 2020 through 2024

*Location:         BCUC Hearing Room

                              12^th Floor, 1125 Howe Street

                              Vancouver, BC