ORDER NUMBER
G-154-24
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.
Reconsideration of Industrial Customer Deliveries Deferral
Account Applicability in BCUC Order G-339-23
BEFORE:
C. M. Brewer, Commissioner
on June 5, 2024
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On December 11, 2023, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) issued Decision and Order G-339- 23 related to the Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. (PNG) 2023–2024 Revenue Requirements Application (RRA) for its western division (2023–2024 RRA Decision). As part of that decision, the BCUC granted PNG approval to record the difference between forecast and actual margin for 2023 in the Industrial Customer Deliveries deferral account (ICDDA) for 10 additional industrial customers that operate in the forest sector. However, the Panel denied PNG’s request for the same treatment in 2024;
B. On April 22, 2024, PNG filed for reconsideration of the determination in the 2023–2024 RRA Decision that disallowed ICDDA treatment in 2024 for PNG’s small industrial forest sector customers (Application). In the Application, PNG seeks BCUC approval to vary the 2023–2024 RRA Decision and allow PNG to defer the forecast variances for 2024 to the ICDDA for:
• All forest sector small industrial customers; or
• In the alternative, three specific forest sector customers (i.e. Skeena Sawmills Ltd., Skeena Bioenergy Ltd. and Premium Pellet Ltd.);
C. PNG states that there is just cause for the requested reconsideration based on notable developments that have surfaced subsequent to the closure of the evidentiary record for the PNG 2023–2024 RRA proceeding;
D. By Order G-132-24, the BCUC granted PNG’s request for permission to apply for reconsideration, determined that the request for reconsideration should proceed to a hearing and established a regulatory timetable for the review of the Application;
E. On May 27, 2024, PNG filed supplemental information in accordance with Order G-132-24. No letters of comment were filed in this proceeding;
F. On June 4, 2024, PNG filed its reply to confirm the requests made in the Application; and
G. The BCUC has reviewed the Application and supplemental information filed in this proceeding and makes the following determination.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to sections 59 to 61 and 99 of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders that the 2023–2024 RRA Decision is varied to allow PNG to defer the margin variances for 2024 to the ICDDA for all forest sector small industrial customers.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 5th day of June 2024.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
C. M. Brewer
Commissioner