ORDER NUMBER
G-119-24
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Energy Inc.
Marketer Cost Variance Deferral Account
BEFORE:
W. E. Royle, Commissioner
on April 25, 2024
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On March 27, 2024, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) applied for approval from the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) to continue the Marketer Cost Variance deferral account for the Customer Choice Program (Application);
B. On October 18, 2016, the BCUC issued Order A-9-16 regarding FEI’s Application for the Customer Choice Program Cost Recovery which, among other things, approved the establishment of the non-rate base Marketer Cost Variance deferral account, effective April 1, 2017, for a period of five years. This deferral account was approved to record any under or over recovery of gas marketer fees to be used as a debit or credit when these fees are set annually during the year-end reconciliation and annual marketer fee adjustment process;
C. On July 14, 2023, the BCUC issued Order A-2-23 directing that no Customer Choice program Annual General Meeting regarding the 2022 calendar year would be established, as there were no proposed issues to be addressed;
D. On April 5, 2024, by Order G-102-24, the BCUC established the regulatory timetable for the review of the Application, which included a deadline for FEI to provide notice to gas marketers, the opportunity for letters of comment, and FEI reply to letters of comment, if any. The BCUC received no letters of comment;
E. FEI continues to use the deferral account as intended for the year-end reconciliation and annual marketer fee adjustment process and requests continuation of the deferral account; and
F. The BCUC has reviewed the Application and considers the following determination is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders that FEI is approved to continue using the non-rate base Marketer Cost Variance deferral account, effective as of April 1, 2022, and attracting FEI’s weighted average cost of capital, to record any under or over recovery of gas marketer fees to be used as a debit or credit when these fees are set annually.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 25th day of April 2024.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
W. E. Royle
Commissioner