ORDER NUMBER
F-18-20
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Energy Inc.
Application for Acceptance of the Biomethane Purchase Agreements between
FortisBC Energy Inc and Tidal Energy Marketing Inc.
BEFORE:
R. I. Mason, Panel Chair
W. M. Everett, Commissioner
R. D. Revel, Commissioner
on May 22, 2020
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On June 3, 2019, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) an application for acceptance of two Biomethane Purchase Agreements (BPAs) between FEI and Tidal Energy Marketing Inc. (Tidal Energy) pursuant to section 71 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) (Application);
B. By Orders G-239-19, G-283-19 and G-19-20 the BCUC established a public hearing process and regulatory timetable to review the Application which included intervener registration, one round of staff and intervener information requests (IRs), submissions on further process, written final arguments, written reply arguments, one round of panel IRs, and an oral submission process;
C. The British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO), the BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA), and the Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC) participated as registered interveners in the proceeding;
D. On February 27, 2020, by Order G-40-20, the BCUC made its final determinations on the Application, including accepting the BPAs for filing pursuant to section 71 of the UCA, the Rules, and the GGRR;
E. The following interveners filed Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) applications with the BCUC with respect to their participation in the proceeding:
|
Date |
Participant |
Application |
|
March 27, 2020 |
British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. |
$13,264.43 |
|
March 12, 2020 |
British Columbia Sustainable Energy Association |
$16,630.44 |
|
March 31, 2020 |
Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia |
$9,373.89* |
*combined total from two PACA applications dated January 14, 2020, and March 31, 2020
F. By letter dated April 15, 2020, FEI provided its comments on the PACA applications, stating that if the BCUC is satisfied that the participants have met the eligibility requirements, that the funding days claimed are appropriate, and that the level of participation has met with the BCUC’s criteria and requirements, then FEI has no further comment; and
G. The BCUC has reviewed the PACA applications in accordance with the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines, attached to BCUC Order G-97-17, and considers that the requested cost awards are warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders as follows:
1. Funding is awarded to the following interveners in the listed amounts for their participation in the proceeding:
|
Participant |
Award |
|
British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. |
$13,264.43 |
|
British Columbia Sustainable Energy Association |
$16,630.44 |
|
Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia |
$9,373.89 |
2. FEI is directed to reimburse the above-noted participants for the awarded amount in a timely manner.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 22nd day of May 2020.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
R. I. Mason
Commissioner