Orders

ORDER NUMBER

A-6-20A1

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

Easy Energy Inc.

Application for a Gas Marketer Licence

under the Customer Choice Program

BEFORE:

E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner

on October 14, 2020

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      Section 71.1(1) of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) requires a person who is not a public utility and who performs a gas marketing activity for low-volume consumers to hold a Gas Marketer Licence issued by the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC);

B.      The BCUC established the Rules for Gas Marketers pursuant to subsection 71.1(10) of the UCA to assist the administration of Gas Marketer licensing. The BCUC reviews and updates the Rules for Gas Marketers from time to time, most recently on October 18, 2013 by Order A-12-13;

C.      On August 31, 2020, Easy Energy Inc. (Easy Energy), applied to the BCUC for a Gas Marketer Licence for the period of November 1, 2020 to October 31, 2021. The application for issuance of its Licence to Market Natural Gas (Application) included the payment of the $1,000 Application fee and proof of sufficient financial resources pursuant to Sections 2 and 7, respectively, of the Licence Requirements;

D.      In the Application, Easy Energy requests that the BCUC hold the Application confidential on the basis that the contents are commercially sensitive; and

E.       The BCUC has reviewed Easy Energy’s Application and relying upon the information and representations made by Easy Energy finds that issuance of a Gas Marketer Licence, subject to certain conditions, is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 71.1 of the UCA and Order A-12-13, the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       A Gas Marketer Licence is issued to Easy Energy for the period of November 1, 2020 to October 31, 2021.

2.       Easy Energy’s Application will be held confidential, as requested by Easy Energy, on the basis that it contains commercially sensitive information.

3.       This Gas Marketer Licence is subject to the following conditions:

a.       Easy Energy must carry out the undertakings as provided in its Application for a Gas Marketer Licence and as set out in the Rules for Gas Marketers established by Order A-12-13.

b.       Easy Energy must comply with the Code of Conduct for Gas Marketers and Rate Schedule 36 of FortisBC Energy Inc. Easy Energy shall ensure that its employees, salespersons or other representatives of its products and services comply with the standards required of a Gas Marketer as set out in the Code of Conduct for Gas Marketers, and Easy Energy shall be responsible for any non-compliance of its employees, salespersons or other representatives of its products and services.

c.       Easy Energy must maintain the proof of financial resources submitted to satisfy Section 7, Financial Statements, of the Licence Requirements, in full force and effect for the duration of the Licence.

d.       Easy Energy must file with the BCUC, pursuant to item 10.0 of the Rules for Gas Marketers, the following information:

i.         The most recent version of the documents submitted to satisfy Sections 6 and 7, Financial Statements, of the Licence Requirements, for BCUC staff’s review and acceptance, in a timely manner; and

ii.       The most recent version of the documents submitted under Sections 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the Licence Requirements for the BCUC’s comment and approval, as necessary, prior to commercial distribution and/or use.

iii.     Unaudited quarterly financial statements, no later than 45 days after the end of each quarter.

e.       Easy Energy must notify the BCUC of any material change in circumstances that adversely affects or is likely to adversely affect the business, operations or assets of the Easy Energy as soon as practicable, but in any event no more than (15) calendar days past the date upon which such change occurs.

f.        The BCUC may, at any time and without prior notice to Easy Energy, amend or impose new terms and conditions on, suspend, or cancel the Gas Marketer Licence for reasons the BCUC, in its sole discretion, considers sufficient.

g.       The Gas Marketer Licence and all copies of it shall remain the property of the BCUC. Easy Energy will return these documents forthwith upon written request from the BCUC.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this               18^th              day of June 2021.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

E. B. Lockhart

Commissioner

Attachment