Orders

ORDER NUMBER

F-39-20

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.

2020-2021 Revenue Requirements Application

for the PNG-West Division

Participant Assistance/Cost Award Application

BEFORE:

A. K. Fung, QC, Panel Chair

C. Brewer, Commissioner

M. Kresivo, QC, Commissioner

on November 16, 2020

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On November 29, 2019, Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. (PNG) filed its 2020-2021 Revenue Requirements Application (RRA) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for the West Division (PNG-West) pursuant to sections 58 to 61, 89 and 90 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA);

B.      By Orders G-330-19A, G-95-20, G-116-20, the BCUC a established a written public hearing process, including two rounds of BCUC and intervener information requests (IRs), Panel IRs, BCUC and intervener IRs on an evidentiary update and written final and reply arguments;

C.      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 (BCOAPO et al.) participated as the sole intervener in the proceeding;

D.      On February 28, 2020, PNG filed its amended 2020-2021 RRA for PNG-West;

E.       By Order G-255-20 and the accompanying reasons for decision dated October 14, 2020, the BCUC approved, among other things, the 2020 and 2021 permanent delivery rate changes for PNG-West;

F.       BCOAPO et. al filed the following Participant Assistance/Cost Award application (PACA Application) with the BCUC with respect to its participation in the proceeding:

G.      By emailed correspondence dated October 29, 2020, PNG provided its comments on the PACA Application, stating that it finds the fees and expenses to be reasonable; and

H.      The BCUC has reviewed the PACA Application in accordance with the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines, attached to BCUC Order G-97-17, and considers that approval of the cost award is warranted. 

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of UCA, the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       Funding is awarded to BCOAPO et. al in the listed amount for its participation in the PNG 2020–2021 RRA proceeding for PNG-West:

2.       PNG is directed to reimburse BCOAPO et al. for the awarded amount in a timely manner.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this          16^th          day of November 2020.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

A. K. Fung, QC

Commissioner