Orders

ORDER NUMBER

F-47-20

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

FortisBC Inc.

Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the

Kelowna Bulk Transformer Addition Project

Participant Assistance/Cost Award Application

BEFORE:

R. I. Mason, Panel Chair

W. M. Everett, QC, Commissioner

T. A. Loski, Commissioner

on December 7, 2020

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On April 24, 2020, pursuant to sections 45 and 46 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), FortisBC Inc. (FBC) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for the Kelowna Bulk Transformer Addition Project (Project);

B.      The Project comprises the following:

•         The installation of a new 120/160/200 MVA 230/138 kV bulk transformer at the F. A. Lee Terminal Station (Lee Terminal Station);

•         The required substation modifications, including the reconfiguration of the 238 kV bus to a ring bus configuration, inside the Lee Terminal Station;

•         Re-alignment of some existing transmission structures outside of the Lee Terminal Station; and

•         Removal of the existing distribution egress within the station and re-alignment of distribution lines outside the Lee Terminal Station;

C.      By Order G-107-20, dated May 5, 2020, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for the review of the Application, which consisted of intervener registration, two rounds of information requests and final and reply arguments;

D.      British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO), Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC), Industrial Consumers Group (ICG) and Tower Ranch Community Association registered as interveners in the proceeding;

E.       On November 30, 2020, by Order C-4-20, with decision issued concurrently, the BCUC granted a CPCN to FBC for the Project.

F.       The following participants filed Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) applications with the BCUC with respect to their participation in the proceeding:

G.      By letter dated November 23, 2020, FBC provided its comments on the PACA applications, stating if the BCUC is satisfied that the participants have met the eligibility requirements, that the funding days claimed are appropriate, and that the level of participation has met with the BCUC’s criteria and requirements, then FBC has no further comment; and

H.      The BCUC has reviewed the PACA applications in accordance with the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines, attached to BCUC Order G-97-17, and concludes that the cost awards are approved.

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

1.       Funding is awarded to the following interveners in the listed amounts for their participation in the FBC CPCN application for the Kelowna Bulk Transformer Addition Project proceeding:

2.       FBC is directed to reimburse the above-noted participants for the awarded amount in a timely manner.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this            7th            day of December 2020.

BY ORDER

Original Signed By:

R. I. Mason

Commissioner