Orders

ORDER NUMBER

F-6-23

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

FortisBC Inc.

2023 to 2027 Demand-Side Management Expenditures Plan

Participant Assistance/Cost Award Application

 

BEFORE:

E. B. Lockhart, Panel Chair

B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

A. Pape-Salmon, Commissioner 

 

on February 28, 2023

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On June 6, 2022, FortisBC Inc. (FBC) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), its Application for Acceptance of Demand-Side Management (DSM) Expenditures Plan for the period covering 2023 to 2027 (Application), pursuant to section 44.2 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), seeking acceptance of DSM total expenditures of $82.583 million for 2023 through 2027;

B.      FBC also sought approval of: 

1.       proposed changes to its existing funding transfer and carryover rules; 

2.       a new variance allowance rule on total portfolio expenditures in the final year of the DSM Plan; and

3.       a rate base deferral account to capture the regulatory costs associated with the review of this Application;

 

C.      By Order G-182-22 dated July 4, 2022, the BCUC established a public hearing and regulatory timetable including intervener registration, one round of information requests, and final and reply arguments;

D.      BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA), British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO); Commercial Energy Consumer Association of British Columbia (the CEC), DMG Blockchain Solutions (DMG) and the Residential Consumer Intervener Association (RCIA) registered as interveners in the proceeding;

E.       On December 16, 2022, by Order G-371-22, the BCUC issued a decision approving the FBC DSM expenditure schedule, along with FBCs requested transfer rules, variance allowance and rate base deferral account;

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 February 14, 2023, FBC provided its comments on the PACA applications, stating that 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 Commission Order G-97-17, and concludes that the cost awards should be approved.

 

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

 

1.       Funding is awarded to the following interveners in the listed amounts for their participation in the
FBC 2023 to 2027 Demand-Side Management Expenditures Plan 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   28^th   day of February 2023.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

E. B. Lockhart

Commissioner