ORDER NUMBER
G-301-23
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. M. Brewer, Panel Chair
T. A. Loski, Commissioner
on November 6, 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, 89 and 90 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA);
B. By Order G-297-23, 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, 2024. Directive 2 of the same order established the deadline for PNG to file with the BCUC, the rate schedules reflecting the interim approvals for endorsement within 15 business days of the date of the order, and Directive 3 required PNG to include a notice of the approved interim rates with the next bill for each customer;
C. On October 27, 2023, the BCUC approved PNG and Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd.’s Commodity Costs Consolidation application and directed PNG to implement the approved changes in PNG’s next quarterly Gas Supply Costs Report, to be effective January 1, 2024;
D. The BCUC anticipates that PNG will file its Fourth Quarter 2023 Gas Supply Costs Report for PNG-West in December 2023, which may result in further changes to PNG’s rate schedules for the commodity-related charges, effective January 1, 2024; and
E. The BCUC has considered PNG’s upcoming Fourth Quarter 2023 Gas Supply Costs Report and the likelihood for further changes to PNG’s rate schedules for commodity rates, also effective January 1, 2024, and determines that a variation of Directive 2 and 3 of Order G-297-23 is warranted to support regulatory and administrative efficiency.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 99 of the UCA, the BCUC orders that Order G-297-23 be varied as follows:
1. Directive 2 of Order G-297-23 is varied to read:
PNG is directed to file with the BCUC, the rate schedules reflecting the interim approvals for endorsement by December 29, 2023.
2. Directive 3 of Order G-297-23 is varied to read:
PNG is directed to include a notice of the approved interim rates with the first bill following the effective date of January 1, 2024 for each customer.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 6th day of November 2023.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
C. M. Brewer
Commissioner