Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-5-23

 

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

D. A. Cote, Commissioner

R. I. Mason, Commissioner

A. Pape-Salmon, Commissioner

 

on January 12, 2023

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      By letter dated December 22, 2021, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (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.      On July 28, 2022, the BCUC issued Order G-212-22 with Reasons for Decision and issued a blackline and clean version of the Phase 1 Report;

C.      On July 28, 2022, by Order G-213-22, the BCUC established Phase 2 of the Inquiry and issued a regulatory timetable which included, among other things, intervener registration, intervener submissions on specific questions and topics sought in the Phase 1 Report, reply submissions, intervener evidence, and BCUC and intervener information requests (IR No. 1) on evidence;

D.      By September 1, 2022, B.C. Sustainable Energy Association, Movement of United Professionals, Direct Energy, GNAR Inc., Pacific Northern Gas Ltd., British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al (BCOAPO), NEWT Energy Inc., Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC), Residential Consumer Intervention Association (RCIA) and FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) registered as interveners in Phase 2 of the Inquiry;

E.       On September 15, 2022, by Order G-258-22, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable to allow additional time to file submissions, as requested by BCOAPO and FEI;

F.       By September 20, 2022, interveners filed submissions on specific questions and topics sought in the
Phase 1 Report. Interveners filed their reply submissions by October 4, 2022;

G.      On October 4, 2022, the BCUC also notified registered interveners of BCUC staff’s intention to file evidence and by Order G-276-22, further amended the regulatory timetable to provide additional time to file evidence, as requested by RCIA;

H.      By October 12, 2022, RCIA and CEC filed evidence;

I.         On November 18, 2022, a letter of comment was filed by staff from the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation (EMLI). Subsequent letters of comment were filed by Vancouver Airport Authority, Metro Vancouver staff and Advanced Biofuels Canada;

J.        By November 29, 2022, RCIA and CEC filed responses to BCUC and intervener IR No. 1 on evidence;

K.       On December 1, 2022, in response to the EMLI’s letter of comment, FEI requested that the BCUC adjourn the Inquiry (Adjournment Request);

L.       On December 6, 2022, by Order G-353-22, the BCUC further amended the regulatory timetable to include, intervener submissions on FEI’s Adjournment Request, FEI reply submission, with further process to be determined;

M.    By December 13, 2022, interveners filed submissions on FEI’s Adjournment Request and further process. FEI filed its reply submission on December 20, 2022;

N.      On December 23, 2022, by order G-387-22 with Reasons for Decision, the BCUC denied FEI’s Adjournment Request and informed interveners of the intent to proceed to Final Argument; and

O.      The BCUC has reviewed the submissions and evidence to date and finds that an amendment to the regulatory timetable is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders the regulatory timetable established by Order G-322-22 is amended as set out in Appendix A to this order.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this         12^th      day of January 2023.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

D. M. Morton

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

 

Inquiry into the Acquisition of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)

by Public Utilities in British Columbia – Phase 2