Orders

ORDER NUMBER

F-40-20

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd.

2020-2021 Revenue Requirements Application

for the Fort St. John/Dawson Creek and Tumbler Ridge Divisions

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 (N.E.) Ltd. [PNG(NE)] filed its 2020-2021 Revenue Requirements Application (RRA) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for the Fort St. John/Dawson Creek (FSJ/DC) and Tumbler Ridge (TR) Divisions pursuant to sections 58 to 61, 89 and 90 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA);

B.      By Orders G-331-19, G-96-20, G-159-20, the BCUC a established written public hearing process, including two rounds of BCUC and intervener information requests (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(NE) filed its amended 2020-2021 RRA;

E.       By Order G-263-20 and the accompanying reasons for decision dated October 21, 2020, the BCUC approved, among other things, 2020 and 2021 permanent delivery rate changes for PNG(NE);

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(NE) provided its comment 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(NE) 2020–2021 RRA proceeding:

2.       PNG(NE) 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