Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-215-24A

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.

2024 Consolidated Resource Plan

BEFORE:

A. K. Fung, Panel Chair

E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner

on August 13, 2024

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On June 28, 2024, Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. and Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. (together, PNG) filed an application (Application) for acceptance by the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) of the 2024 Consolidated Resource Plan (2024 CRP) pursuant to section 44.1 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA);

B.      By Order G-265-20, dated October 23, 2020, the BCUC accepted PNG’s 2019 Consolidated Resource Plan and directed PNG to file its next resource plan no later than December 31, 2023;

C.      On December 6, 2023, PNG submitted a request for an extension to the originally specified filing date of December 31, 2023, stating as a reason the uncertainty around the Cedar Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) decision to proceed with construction;

D.      By Order G-356-23, dated December 19, 2023, the BCUC approved PNG’s extension request and directed PNG to file its next resource plan upon the earlier of within three months of the execution of the Cedar LNG Transportation Service Agreement (TSA), or by June 30, 2024;

E.       PNG notes in the Application that no TSA between Cedar LNG and PNG was signed as of March 31, 2024, and PNG is therefore submitting its 2024 CRP in compliance with the June 30, 2024 date;

F.       PNG is not seeking approval for any particular elements identified in its 2024 CRP;

G.      PNG notes it reserves the right to provide an evidentiary update to its 2024 CRP updating its demand forecasts to reflect actual demand and customer additions; and

H.      The BCUC has reviewed the Application and finds the following determinations are warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       A public hearing process is established for the review of the Application in accordance with the regulatory timetable as set out in Appendix A to this order.

2.       PNG is directed to make the Application and this order available on its website by no later than Friday, August 16, 2024.

3.       PNG must provide a copy of this order by no later than Friday, August 16, 2024 to all registered interveners in the following proceedings:

a.       PNG 2023 to 2024 Energy Conservation and Innovation Portfolio Funding; and

b.       PNG NE and PNG West Fiscal 2023 to 2024 Revenue Requirements.

4.       PNG is directed to provide written confirmation to the BCUC that it has complied with Directives 2 and 3 of this order by Thursday, August 29, 2024. 

5.       PNG is directed to file an evidentiary update no later than Thursday, August 29, 2024, as described in Appendix A to this order.

6.       In accordance with the BCUC Rules of Practice and Procedure, parties who wish to actively participate in the proceeding must complete a Request to Intervene Form, available on the Get Involved in a Proceeding section of the BCUC's website at https://www.bcuc.com/GetInvolved/GetInvolvedProceeding, by Friday, September 6, 2024. Parties may also submit letters of comment by completing a Letter of Comment Form, available on the BCUC’s website.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this      14^th       day of August 2024.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

A. K. Fung

Commissioner

Attachment

Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.

2024 Consolidated Resource Plan

* The BCUC notes that Cedar LNG announced a positive final investment decision on June 25, 2024.[1] In PNG’s evidentiary update, PNG is to clarify whether the 2024 CRP demand forecasts (annual and design day) include the Cedar LNG project. If not, please address the potential impact of the Cedar LNG project on PNG’s demand forecasts, and any related need for infrastructure upgrades.