Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-142-22

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

British Columbia Utilities Commission Inquiry into the Acquisition of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)
 by Public Utilities in British Columbia

 

BEFORE:

D. M. Morton, Panel Chair

R. I. Mason, Commissioner

A. Pape-Salmon, Commissioner

 

on May 20, 2022

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On April 29, 2021, pursuant to section 71 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) and the BCUC’s Rules for Natural Gas Energy Supply Contracts, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) an application for acceptance of a Biomethane Purchase Agreement (BPA) between FEI and Shell North America (Canada) Inc. (Shell) (FEI-Shell BPA);

B.      By Order E-14-21 and accompanying reasons for decision dated May 28, 2021 (Decision), the BCUC determined that the FEI-Shell BPA qualified as a prescribed undertaking pursuant to section 18 of the Clean Energy Act and sections 3.8 to 3.9 of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Regulations, and accepted the FEI-Shell BPA for filing pursuant to section 71 of the UCA;

C.      In section 7.4 of the Decision, the BCUC noted that the proceeding had raised novel issues regarding public utilities’ acquisition of RNG and recommended that the BCUC inquire further into the acquisition of RNG by public utilities in British Columbia;

D.      By letter dated December 22, 2021, the BCUC established an Inquiry into the Acquisition of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) by Public Utilities in British Columbia (Inquiry) and invited parties to provide submissions as laid out in the letter;

E.       By January 31, 2022, submissions were received from the following parties:

•         Movement of United Professionals (MoveUP);

•         Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC);

•         Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. (PNG);

•         B.C. Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA);

•         Canadian Biogas Association (CBA);

•         FEI; and

•         Residential Consumer Intervenor Association (RCIA);

F.       By letter dated February 11, 2022, the BCUC provided the opportunity to file reply submissions, which were received by MoveUp, CEC, PNG, BSCEA, FEI and RCIA;

G.      By letter dated March 24, 2022, the BCUC provided an update on the status of the Inquiry and notified parties that a draft inquiry report (Draft Report) and regulatory timetable seeking comments would be issued in due course; and

H.      The BCUC determines that further process and the establishment a regulatory timetable are warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       A regulatory timetable for the review of the Draft Report attached as Appendix A to this Order is established.

2.       The BCUC requests written comment on the following:

a.             The contents of the Draft Report; and

b.             The specific questions and submissions sought by the BCUC contained within the Draft Report.

3.       Any party wishing to provide comments on the Draft Report should provide its submission to the BCUC in writing. Letters of comment must be in the Letter of Comment Form available on the BCUC’s website at https://www.bcuc.com/Forms/LetterOfComment.

 

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this            20^th          day of May 2022.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

D. M. Morton

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

 

British Columbia Utilities Commission Inquiry into the Acquisition of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)
by Public Utilities in British Columbia