Orders

 

ORDER NUMBER

F-30-23

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. and Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd.

2023-2024 Energy Conservation and Innovation Portfolio Funding

Participant Cost Award Application

 

BEFORE:

E. B. Lockhart, Panel Chair

C. M. Brewer, Commissioner

B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

 

August 11, 2023

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On August 12, 2022, Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. and Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. (collectively, PNG) filed its Application for Energy Conservation and Innovation (ECI) Portfolio Funding for 2023-2024 (Application), pursuant to section 44.2(3) of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), seeking acceptance of Demand Side Measures (DSM) total expenditures of $3,810,452 for the period 2023-2024;

B.      The regulatory process for the review of the Application included a written public hearing process, consisting of one round of written information requests, and written final and reply arguments;

C.      The following parties registered as interveners in the proceeding:

•         British Columbia Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA);

•         British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO);

•         Residential Consumer Intervener Association (RCIA); and

•         City of Terrace.

D.      On June 29, 2023, by Order G-171-23 with decision issued concurrently, the BCUC approved DSM expenditures of $3,110,452 for the period 2023-2024. The following PNG DSM expenditures were rejected: BC Hydrogen Natural Gas Blending Study in the amount of $600,000; and Development of Codes and Standards, in the amount of $100,000;

E.       The following participants filed Participant Cost Award (PCA) applications with the BCUC with respect to their participation in the proceeding:

 

F.       By e-mail dated July 13, 2023, PNG was sent the PCA applications and provided an opportunity to comment within 10 business days, as per Section 35 of the BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. PNG did not provide any comments as of July 27, 2023; and

G.      The BCUC has reviewed the PCA applications in accordance with the criteria and rates set out in the New Rules of Practice and Procedure attached to BCUC Order G-72-23, 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 PNG’s 2023-2024 Energy Conservation and Innovation Portfolio Funding proceeding:

 

2.       PNG is directed to reimburse the above-noted participants for the awarded amounts in a timely manner.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this          11^th          day of August 2023.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

E. B. Lockhart

Commissioner