Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-36-20

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd.

Application for Approval of the 2019 Franchise Agreement between

Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. and the City of Fort St. John

 

BEFORE:

R. I. Mason, Panel Chair

W. M. Everett, QC, Commissioner

B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

 

on February 28, 2020

 

ORDER

 

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On December 10, 2019, Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) (PNG (N.E.)) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), for approval of a franchise agreement between the City of Fort St. John and PNG (N.E.). (Application), pursuant to section 45(7) of the Utilities Commission Act;

B.      PNG (N.E.) (through its predecessor company Centra Gas Fort St. John Inc.) and the City of Fort St. John entered into a franchise agreement (1997 Franchise Agreement) dated December 8, 1997, approved by BCUC Order C-4-98, dated May 26, 1998. The 1997 Franchise Agreement expired on December 7, 2018; 

C.      PNG (N.E.) submits that on December 3, 2018, PNG (N.E.) and the City of Fort St. John entered into interim operating arrangements to provide for the continued service to customers in the franchise area while the negotiation and approval of new franchise terms were conducted; and

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

NOW THEREFORE, the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       A public hearing process and a Regulatory Timetable are established, as set out in Appendix A to this order.

 

2.       PNG (N.E.) must publish, no later than March 20, 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 PNG (N.E.) customers in the City of Fort St. John.

 

3.       In accordance with the Rules of Practice and Procedure as attached to BCUC Order G-15-19, parties who wish to participate in the proceeding may submit a letter of comment, register as an interested party or request intervener status. Parties who wish to request intervener status are to register with the BCUC by completing a Request to Intervene Form by the date established in the Regulatory Timetable attached as Appendix A to this order.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this           28th              day of February 2020.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original Signed By:

 

R. I. Mason

Commissioner

 

Attachment

 

 

Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd.

Application for Approval of the 2019 Franchise Agreement between

Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. and the City of Fort St. John

 

 

 

 

 

 

FRANCHISE AGREEMENT BETWEEN PACIFIC NORTHERN GAS (N.E.) AND THE CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN

On December 10, 2019, Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. (PNG (N.E.)) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for approval of a franchise agreement with the City of Fort St. John. The franchise agreement between PNG (N.E.) and the City of Fort St. John outlines the terms of administering and operating gas distribution facilities within the City of Fort St. John. 

 

More information on the Application can be found at bcuc.com on the “Current Proceedings” page. A hard copy of the application is also available for review at the BCUC’s office and PNG (N.E.)’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
Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. 750 – 888 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver, BC  V6C 3K4   E: votto@png.cca   P: 604.691.5680	British Columbia Utilities Commission Suite 410, 900 Howe Street Vancouver, BC  V6Z 2N3   E: Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com   P: 604.660.4700