ORDER NUMBER
G-236-21
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.
Certificate
of Public Convenience and Necessity for the Western Transmission Gas System
Reactivation
and Recommissioning Project Application and Deferral Account Increase
Application
BEFORE:
T. A. Loski, Panel Chair
M. Kresivo QC, Commissioner
E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner
on August 10, 2021
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On March 5, 2021, Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. (PNG) submitted two applications (collectively, the Applications) to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC):
1. An application to the BCUC pursuant to sections 45 and 46 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), seeking approval of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for the Western Transmission Gas System Reactivation and Recommissioning Project (CPCN Application); and
2. An application regarding Allocation of Reactivated Capacity and Approval of Large Volume Industrial Transportation Rate Request for Increase to Reactivation Project Development Costs Deferral Account (Deferral Account Application);
B. In the CPCN Application, PNG also seeks approval under sections 59-61 of the UCA for the following:
a) Four firm Transportation Service Agreements (TSAs) for service to be provided under PNG’s Large Volume Industrial Transportation Rate tariff; and
b) Three service agreements for Transportation on Interconnection Facilities (Interconnection Agreements);
C. By Order G-116-21 dated April 19, 2021, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for the review of the Applications, which included one round of BCUC and intervener information requests (IRs) and further process to be determined;
D. On June 10, 2021, PNG filed its responses to BCUC and intervener IRs. In its responses, PNG requests BCUC approval of the TSAs and Interconnection Agreements by September 1, 2021, and approval of the Deferral Account Application by August 30, 2021;
E. By Order G-189-21, the BCUC established an expedited review process for the TSAs and Interconnection Agreements;
F.
On July 9, 2021, PNG filed its final argument
regarding the TSAs and Interconnection Agreements. On
July 16, 2021, BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA) filed its final
argument regarding the TSAs and Interconnection Agreements, stating BCSEA does
not oppose approval of the TSAs and Interconnection Agreements; and
G. The BCUC has reviewed the evidence and arguments and considers approval of the TSAs and Interconnection Agreements for endorsement by the BCUC is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to sections 59–61 of the UCA, the BCUC orders as follows:
1. The TSAs filed in Appendix B of the Application are approved as filed, for endorsement by the BCUC.
2. The Interconnection Agreements filed in Appendix E of the Application are approved as filed, for endorsement by the BCUC.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 10th day of August 2021.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
T. A. Loski
Commissioner