ORDER NUMBER
C-3-20
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd.
Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
To Implement Automated Meter Reading Infrastructure
BEFORE:
W. M. Everett, QC, Panel Chair
C. Brewer, Commissioner
R. I. Mason, Commissioner
on September 24, 2020
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On March 25, 2020, Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. (PNG(NE)) filed an application (Application) to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), pursuant to sections 45 and 46 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), for approval of net capital expenditures of approximately $4.2 million to implement Automated Meter Reading (AMR) Infrastructure in its service areas (the AMR Project);
B. On April 9, 2020, by Order G-86-20, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for the initial review of the Application, which provided for, among other things, provision of public notice, a round of BCUC Information Requests (IR), PNG(NE) responses to IRs, and intervener registration.
C. On May 26, 2020, PNG(NE) filed a letter, Exhibit B-5, to the BCUC stating PNG(NE) was not compliant with Directive 2 of Order G-86-20, to provide a copy of the Application to local municipalities and to interveners in the two most recent PNG(NE) proceedings.
D. On May 28, 2020, by Order G-126-20, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable to extend intervener registration and solicit submissions on further process.
E. British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization, Active Support Against Poverty, Disability Alliance BC, Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of BC, and Tenants Resource and Advisory Centre (collectively, BCOAPO et al.) registered as an intervener in the proceeding.
F. On June 24, 2020, by Order G-169-20, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable, which provided for a subsequent round of IRs, final and reply arguments.
G. In its Application dated March 25, 2020, supporting documents dated April 3, 2020, and responses to BCUC IRs dated May 21 and July 21, 2020, PNG(NE) filed non-confidential, redacted versions of these documents requesting that certain portions of the Application, supporting documents and responses to BCUC IRs be kept confidential due to their commercially sensitive nature. The BCUC reserves its determination on the confidentiality of these documents until the reasons for its decision are issued.
H. The BCUC has considered the Application and all submissions and determines the following order is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE, for reasons to follow, the BCUC orders as follows:
1. A Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) is granted to PNG(NE) for the AMR Project pursuant to sections 45 and 46 of the UCA.
2. PNG(NE) is directed to comply with all directives and reporting requirements as outlined in the reasons for decision to follow.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 24th day of September 2020.
BY ORDER
Original Signed By:
W. M. Everett, QC
Commissioner