Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-213-22

 

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 – Phase 2

 

BEFORE:

D. M. Morton, Panel Chair

R. I. Mason, Commissioner

A. Pape-Salmon, Commissioner

D. A. Cote, Commissioner

 

on July 28, 2022

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      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;

B.      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);

•         FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI); and

•         Residential Consumer Intervenor Association (RCIA).

C.      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;

D.      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 Phase 1 Report) and regulatory timetable seeking comments would be issued in due course;

E.       On May 20, 2022, the BCUC issued the Draft Phase 1 Report with its preliminary findings and by Order
G-144-21, established a regulatory timetable which, among other things, sought parties’ submissions on the contents of the Draft Phase 1 Report and responses to specific questions;

F.       By June 6, 2022, MoveUp, PNG, BCSEA, FEI and the RCIA filed their submissions on the Draft Phase 1 Report. On June 20, 2022, BCSEA filed its reply submission;

G.      In the Draft Phase 1 Report, the Panel proposed a Phase 2 of the Inquiry;

H.      By Order G-173-22 dated June 24, 2022, the BCUC adjourned the Inquiry for 30 days or until otherwise directed by the Panel;

I.         On July 28, 2022, the BCUC issued Order G-212-22 with Reasons for Decision and issued a blackline and clean version of the Final Phase 1 Report; and

J.        The BCUC has reviewed the submissions to date and makes the following determinations.

 

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 82 of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       Phase 2 of the Inquiry is established in accordance with the regulatory timetable attached as Appendix A to this order.

2.       FEI and PNG are directed to publish a copy of this order and public notice attached as Appendix B to this order in a clearly visible location on their respective websites on or before Thursday, August 4, 2022.

3.       FEI and PNG are directed to publish a copy of this order and public notice attached as Appendix B to this order on all of their current social media platforms, on or before Thursday, August 4, 2022.

4.       In accordance with BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, parties who wish to actively participate in this proceeding must submit the Request to Intervene Form, available on the BCUC’s website at https://www.bcuc.com/Forms/RequestToIntervene, by the date established in the regulatory timetable.

5.       Any party wishing to provide comments on the Inquiry is invited to submit a letter of comment, by the date established in the attached regulatory timetable. 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                28^th         day of July 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

BCUC Inquiry into the Acquisition of Renewable Natural Gas

by Public Utilities in British Columbia

 

The British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) is launching Phase 2 of its inquiry into the acquisition of renewable natural gas (RNG) by public utilities in British Columbia (RNG Inquiry). Phase 1 of the RNG Inquiry explored:

•         the definition of biomethane and RNG;

•         the characteristics of RNG;

•         how RNG is delivered;

•         how RNG differs from conventional natural gas, and

•         the appropriate calculations for the annual amount of RNG acquired by a public utility, as set out in the BC government’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Regulation.

The BCUC issued a Final Phase 1 Report, which incorporated feedback received on the Draft Phase 1 Report. As a result of questions raised and submissions filed during Phase 1 of the RNG Inquiry, the BCUC initiated Phase 2 to further examine issues arising in Phase 1 about how RNG can be acquired, to provide the opportunity to respond to the submissions received in Phase 1, and to allow for submissions on questions raised in the Final Phase 1 Report.

 

Clarifying these items will help the BCUC review future application from public utilities interested in acquiring RNG and to determine if the application qualifies as a prescribed undertaking, pursuant to the BC government’s Clean Energy Act.

 

For more information, please visit the Proceeding Webpage on bcuc.com under “Our Work – Proceedings”. The scope for Phase 2 of the RNG Inquiry is included in Order G-212-22. To learn more about getting involved, please visit our website at www.bcuc.com/get-involved or contact us at the information below.

 

MORE INFORMATION
British Columbia Utilities Commission Suite 410, 900 Howe Street Vancouver, BC Canada  V6Z 2N3 E: Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com   P: 604.660.4700