Orders

 

ORDER NUMBER

G-297-20

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

Big White Gas Utility Ltd.

Application to Amend Rates

 

BEFORE:

A. K. Fung, QC, Panel Chair

B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

 

on November 24, 2020

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On November 10, 2020, Big White Gas Utility Ltd. (BWGU) filed its fiscal 2022 to fiscal 2026 revenue requirements application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) requesting approval, effective June 1, 2021, for the following amendments to its tariff:

(i)      New terms and conditions imported, with amendments, from the Propane Supply Agreement;

(ii)    Provisions for collecting development cost charges on specified properties, added to the tariff;

(iii)   The minimum charge (currently applicable only in cases where this charge exceeds the level of the consumption charge for that period) changed to a basic charge, applicable each month in addition to the consumption charge;

(iv)   A one-cent per litre increase to the consumption charge, to $0.13 per litre;

(v)    All mark-ups over cost in the Special Rate Schedule standardized to 15 percent; and

(vi)   Various “housekeeping” amendments for clarity and consistency (collectively, the Application);

B.      The BCUC has commenced its review of the Application and determines that a regulatory timetable for the review of the Application is warranted.

 

 

 

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       The regulatory timetable for the review of the Application is established as set out in Appendix A to this order.

2.       BWGU is directed to supplement the Application with the additional information outlined in Appendix B to this order by no later than Monday, December 7, 2020.

3.       BWGU is directed to provide the public notice, attached as Appendix C to this order, and a copy of this order, via email where appropriate, to its customers and to those from whom BWGU has either collected or will collect development cost charges for the purposes of moving the gas plant, by no later than Monday, December 7, 2020. BWGU must post the attached public notice in major entry ways in the area of Big White Ski Resort. BWGU must provide confirmation to the BCUC that public notice has been provided as directed.

4.       BWGU must publish notice of this Application on its Twitter and Facebook social media platforms by no later than Monday, December 7, 2020, and must publish weekly reminder notices on each of these platforms until January 7, 2021.

5.       BWGU must make the Application available for inspection at its head office and on its website at https://www.bigwhite.com/utilities.

6.       In accordance with the BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure attached as Appendix A to Order G-15-19, parties who wish to participate in the proceeding may submit a letter of comment, register as an interested party, or request intervener status. Parties requesting intervener status must register with the BCUC by completing a Request to Intervene Form available on the BCUC’s website by the date established in the regulatory timetable attached as Appendix A to this order. Parties requesting intervener status are to specifically state the nature of their interest in the Application and to generally identify the issues they intend to pursue and the extent of their anticipated involvement in the proceeding.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this             24^th          day of November 2020.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

A. K. Fung, QC

Commissioner

 

 

Attachments

 

 

Big White Gas Utility Ltd.

Application to Amend Rates

 

 

 

 

 

Big White Gas Utility Ltd.

Application to Amend Rates

 

 

 

1.       Please explain how the requested one-cent per litre increase to the consumption charge, from $0.12 to $0.13 per litre, was calculated based on the revenue requirement provided in Table 2.1 of the Application.

2.       Please provide the monthly actual load for fiscal 2017 to fiscal 2020 and the forecast monthly load for fiscal 2021 to fiscal 2026, in litres and gigajoules, broken down by commercial and residential customers.

3.       Please provide a black-lined version of the pro forma tariff and rate schedules provided in Appendix 2 to the Application, that clearly identifies the changes from the currently approved tariff and rate schedules.

 

 

 

BIG WHITE GAS UTILITY LTD. APPLICATION TO AMEND RATES

On November 10, 2020, Big White Gas Utility Ltd. (BWGU) filed its F2022 to F2026 Revenue Requirements Application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC). The application requests approval, effective June 1, 2021, of several amendments to BWGU’s tariff, including:

•         a one-cent per litre increase to the consumption charge, from $0.12 to $0.13,

•         changing the minimum monthly charge of $10 and $45 for residential and commercial customers, respectively, to a basic monthly charge, in addition to the monthly consumption charge, and

•         the addition of provisions for collecting development cost charges on specified properties.

 

More information on the application can be found at https://www.bcuc.com/on our “Current Proceedings” page under “Regulatory Activities.”

 

 

For more information on getting involved, please visit our website (www.bcuc.com/get-involved) or contact us at the information below.

GET MORE INFORMATION
Big White Gas Utility Ltd. 5315 Big White Road Kelowna, BC  V1P 1P3   E: utilities@bigwhite.com   P: 250.765.3101	British Columbia Utilities Commission Suite 410, 900 Howe Street Vancouver, BC Canada  V6Z 2N3   E: Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com   P: 604.660.4700