Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-103-23

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.

2023–2024 Revenue Requirements Application

for the PNG-West Division

 

BEFORE:

C. Brewer, Panel Chair

T. A. Loski, Commissioner

A. Pape-Salmon, Commissioner

 

on May 3, 2023

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On November 30, 2022, Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. (PNG) filed its 2023–2024 Revenue Requirements Application (RRA) with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for its West division (PNG-West) pursuant to sections 58 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA);

B.      By Order G-374-22, the BCUC, among other things, approved PNG's basic charges, delivery rates and Revenue Stabilization Adjustment Mechanism (RSAM) rate rider on an interim and refundable/recoverable basis, effective January 1, 2023, and established a regulatory timetable for the proceeding. The timetable included intervener registration, filing an amended application, two rounds of information requests (IRs) to PNG, responses to IRs, written final argument and reply argument;

C.      British Columbia Old Age Pensioner’s Organization, Active Support Against Poverty, Council of Senior Citizen’s Organizations of BC, Disability Alliance BC, and Tenant Resource and Advisory Center, known collectively as BCOAPO et al. (BCOAPO) and Residential Consumer Intervener Association (RCIA) registered as interveners in the proceeding, and both parties have participated to date;

D.      On February 28, 2023, PNG filed its amended application for approval of 2023 and 2024 delivery rates on a permanent basis and on April 25, 2023, PNG filed its responses to BCUC and Intervener IR No. 1;

E.       By letter dated May 1, 2023, PNG requested that:

1.       The proceeding be paused given uncertainty with respect to PNG’s existing Rate Schedule (RS) 80 customer's progress towards obtaining a positive financial investment decision. PNG states that it is currently working with the RS 80 customer to support its anticipated project in-service date while simultaneously working to mitigate risk to PNG and its ratepayers; and

2.       An update be filed with the BCUC four weeks from the date of the BCUC order pausing the RRA proceeding; and

F.       The BCUC has reviewed PNG’s request and considers that an amendment to the regulatory timetable is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       The regulatory timetable is amended as set out in Appendix A to this order.

2.       PNG is directed to file with the BCUC a status update regarding the RS 80 customer's project and financial situation (Status Update), including a recommendation on further process by Wednesday, May 31, 2023.

 

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this               3^rd               day of May 2023.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

C. Brewer

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

 

 

Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.

2023–2024 Revenue Requirements Application

for the PNG-West Division