ORDER NUMBER
G-8-20
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 Williams Lake and FortisBC Energy Inc.
BEFORE:
R. I. Mason, Panel Chair
B. A. Magnan, Commissioner
on January 15, 2020
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On October 30, 2019, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for approval of an operating agreement dated October 17, 2019, entered into between the Corporation of the City of Williams Lake (Williams Lake) and FEI (FEI-Williams Lake Operating Agreement or Application);
B. FEI (through its predecessor company, BC Gas Utility Ltd.) and Williams Lake entered into a franchise agreement dated October 21, 1998, approved by Order C-16-98, which expired September 5, 2019;
C. FEI submits that the FEI-Williams Lake Operating Agreement is based on terms which are substantially consistent with the approved terms of the Village of Keremeos Operating Agreement;
D. By Order G-294-19, dated November 20, 2019, the BCUC granted interim approval of the FEI-Williams Lake Operating Agreement, pending a final determination by the BCUC on the Application. Order G-294-19 also established a public hearing process for the review of the Application, which included public notice, intervener registration and a deadline for letters of comment. No requests to intervene or letters of comment were received by the BCUC; and
E. The Panel has reviewed the Application and considers the following determination is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 23(1)(g) of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders that the FEI-Williams Lake Operating Agreement, dated October 17, 2019, between FEI and Williams Lake, is approved on a permanent basis.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 15th day of January 2020.
BY ORDER
Original Signed By:
R. I. Mason
Commissioner