Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-319-19

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 Armstrong and FortisBC Energy Inc.

BEFORE:

R. I. Mason, Commissioner

on December 9, 2019

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On August 26, 2019, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for approval of an operating agreement dated August 9, 2019 between the Corporation of the City of Armstrong (City of Armstrong) and FEI (FEI-City of Armstrong Operating Agreement or Application), pursuant to section 23(1)(g) and section 89 of the Utilities Commission Act;

B.      FEI (through its predecessor company BC Gas Utility Co. Ltd.) and the City of Armstrong entered into a franchise agreement (Franchise Agreement) dated April 7, 1998, approved by BCUC Order C-6-98, dated May 28, 1998. The Franchise Agreement expired on October 11, 2019;

C.      Given the expiry of the Franchise Agreement, FEI requests approval of the Operating Agreement on an interim basis until a final determination on this Application is made by the BCUC; and

D.      The BCUC has reviewed the Application and considers that the following determinations are warranted.

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to section 23(1)(g) and section 89 of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       Interim approval of the FEI-City of Armstrong Operating Agreement and the collection of operating fees, effective October 12, 2019, is granted until the Panel reaches a final determination on the Application.

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

3.       FEI must publish, no later than Friday, January 3, 2020, 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 Armstrong.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this            9^th            day of December 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 Armstrong and FortisBC Energy Inc.

OPERATING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ARMSTRONG AND FORTISBC ENERGY INC.

On August 26, 2019, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) applied to the BCUC for approval of a revised operating agreement with the City of Armstrong. The operating agreement between both parties outlines the terms of administering and operating gas distribution facilities within the City of Armstrong.

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.