Orders

 

ORDER NUMBER

F-28-24

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

FortisBC Energy Inc.

2023 Cost of Service Allocation and Revenue Rebalancing

Participant Cost Award Application

 

BEFORE:

D. A. Cote, Panel Chair

E. A. Brown, Commissioner

M. Jaccard, Commissioner

 

on July 3, 2024

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On July 20, 2023, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), pursuant to sections 58 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act, its 2023 Cost of Service Allocation (COSA) study and application for approval of revenue rebalancing, effective January 1, 2025 (Application);

B.      By Orders G-218-23 and G-21-24, the BCUC established the regulatory timetable for the review of the Application, which included intervener registration, one round of information requests (IRs), submissions on further process, and final and reply arguments;

C.      British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO), Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (the CEC) and Residential Consumer Intervener Association (RCIA) participated as interveners in the proceeding;

D.      By letter dated April 11, 2024, the BCUC requested supplemental evidence and allowed an opportunity for supplemental arguments. The CEC did not file supplemental argument;

E.       On May 21, 2024, by Decision and Order G-144-24, the BCUC made its final determinations on the Application and directed FEI to implement the resulting rate changes to its rate schedules, effective January 1, 2025;

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

 

G.      On May 31, 2024, the CEC filed an amended PCA application with the BCUC to include an additional invoice dated May 31, 2024, which is reflected in the requested amount set out in recital F above;

H.      By letter dated June 12, 2024, FEI provided its comments on the PCA applications, stating if the BCUC is satisfied with the PCA applications being in accordance with the Rules of Practice and Procedure, then FEI has no further comment; and

I.         The BCUC has reviewed the PCA applications in accordance with the criteria and rates set out in the Rules of Practice and Procedure, and determines that the PCA applications should be approved.

 

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118 of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       Costs are awarded to the following participants in the listed amounts, inclusive of applicable taxes, for their participation in the FEI 2023 COSA and Revenue Rebalancing proceeding:

 

2.       FEI 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             3^rd             day of July 2024.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

D. A. Cote

Commissioner