ORDER NUMBER
G-160-24
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Energy Inc.
Implementation of the RNG Blend Service,
Storage and Transportation RNG Rider, and Changes to the RNG Charge
BEFORE:
B. A. Magnan, Panel Chair
E. A. Brown, Commissioner
E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner
on June 13, 2024
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On May 31, 2024, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) for approval of certain rates and a new deferral account, effective July 1, 2024, to implement the BCUC’s decision on its revised Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) program (Decision and Order G-77-24) issued on March 20, 2024 (Application);
B. In the Application, FEI seeks approval of the following, effective July 1, 2024:
• to establish a new deferral account to record RNG mitigation revenue;
• to set the RNG Blend at 1 percent, resulting in an RNG volume of 713 terajoules (TJ) that FEI plans to deliver through the RNG Blend, commencing July 1, 2024;
• to deliver, on a forecast basis, 1,343 TJ of RNG to Voluntary RNG customers from April 1 to December 31, 2024;
• to set the Storage & Transportation RNG Rider (S&T RNG Rider) (Rider 8) equal to $0.181 per gigajoule (GJ);
• to set the RNG Charge for the RNG offerings in certain rate schedules under FEI’s Voluntary RNG program as follows:
o Rate Schedules 1RNG, 2RNG, 3RNG, 5RNG, 7RNG equal to $13.216 per GJ;
o Rate Schedules 3VRNG, 5VRNG equal to $24.696 per GJ;
o Rate Schedule 11RNG equal to $24.877 per GJ;
o Rate Schedule 46 for NGV equal to $24.696 per GJ; and
o Rate Schedule 46 for non-NGV equal to $13.216 per GJ.
• to hold the commercially sensitive information related to FEI’s renewable gas supply acquisition volume and price contained in Appendix B confidential in perpetuity.
C. In the Application, FEI requests approval of the above items on an interim basis pending the BCUC’s final determination if the BCUC is unable to issue its decision on the Application by June 17, 2024; and
D. The BCUC has commenced its review of the Application and finds that the following approvals are warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to sections 59 to 61 and 89 of the UCA, the BCUC orders as follows:
1. FEI is approved to set the S&T RNG Rider (Rider 8) equal to $0.181 per GJ, effective July 1, 2024, on an interim and refundable/recoverable basis.
2. FEI is approved to set the RNG Charge as set out below, effective July 1, 2024, on an interim and refundable/recoverable basis:
a. Rate Schedules 1RNG, 2RNG, 3RNG, 5RNG, and 7RNG equal to $13.216 per GJ;
b. Rate Schedules 3VRNG and 5VRNG equal to $24.696 per GJ;
c. Rate Schedule 11RNG equal to $24.877 per GJ;
d. Rate Schedule 46 for NGV equal to $24.696 per GJ; and
e. Rate Schedule 46 for non-NGV equal to $13.216 per GJ.
3. FEI is directed to file revised tariff pages reflecting the interim approvals in Directives 1 and 2 for BCUC endorsement within 30 days of the date of this order.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 13th day of June 2024.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
B. A. Magnan
Commissioner