ORDER NUMBER
G-237-24
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Energy Inc.
Renewable Natural Gas Tariff Amendment Request
BEFORE:
E. B. Lockhart, Panel Chair
B. A. Magnan, Commissioner
on August 29, 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 amendments to the rate schedules and General Terms and Conditions (GT&Cs) of FEI’s tariff (Tariff), effective July 1, 2024, to implement the BCUC’s decision on its revised Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) program (Decision and Order G-77-24 or RNG Decision) issued on March 20, 2024 (RNG Tariff Application);
B. In the RNG Tariff Application, FEI also addresses other directives in compliance with the RNG Decision;
C. Concurrently, on May 31, 2024, FEI filed a separate application (Implementation of the RNG Blend Service, Storage and Transportation (ST&T) RNG Rider, and Changes to the RNG Charge Application) seeking the BCUC’s approval of certain rates and a new deferral account, effective July 1, 2024, to implement the RNG Decision;
D. By Order G-160-24 dated June 13, 2024, the BCUC approved the rates requested in the FEI Implementation of the RNG Blend Service, S&T RNG Rider, and Changes to the RNG Charge Application on an interim and refundable/recoverable basis;
E. By Order G-167-24 dated June 20, 2024, the BCUC approved the amendments to FEI’s GT&Cs and rate schedules, including the new rate schedules, filed in Appendix A of the RNG Tariff Application on an interim basis, effective July 1, 2024;
F. On July 29, 2024, FEI responded to BCUC Staff Questions on the RNG Tariff Application, which included FEI providing, as an attachment, its responses dated July 15, 2024 to BCUC Staff Questions on the Implementation of the RNG Blend Service, S&T RNG Rider, and Changes to the RNG Charge Application;
G. In the responses to the BCUC Staff Questions on the RNG Tariff Application, FEI revised certain requested amendments to the rate schedules and GT&C’s of FEI’s Tariff, and requested the following:
• Approval to make available to Fort Nelson customers under rate schedule (RS) 1RNG, 2RNG, 3RNG and 3VRNG the voluntary RNG program as approved in the RNG Decision; and
• For Revelstoke customers, either a variance from Directive 1a of Order G-77-24 or another order from the BCUC which includes the following:
o Approval to implement the RNG Blend service, including the S&T RNG Rider, effective October 1, 2024, rather than July 1, 2024 in accordance with the RNG Decision due to a delay arising from additional complexities with the billing system programming changes for Revelstoke customers; and
o Approval for FEI to continue collecting the biomethane variance account (BVA) delivery rate rider (Rider 3) until the implementation of the S&T RNG Rider, effective October 1, 2024;
H. FEI submits that it is most efficient and cost effective to address the required tariff revisions for Revelstoke together with FEI’s entire service territory; and
I. The BCUC has reviewed the RNG Tariff Application and responses to the BCUC Staff Questions on the RNG Tariff Application and makes the following determinations.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to sections 59 to 61 and 99 of the UCA, the BCUC orders as follows:
1. Subject to Directive 2 of this order, the amendments to FEI’s GT&Cs and rate schedules, including the new rate schedules, filed in Appendix A of the RNG Tariff Application and amended in the responses to the BCUC Staff Questions on the RNG Tariff Application including with respect to the availability of the voluntary RNG program for Fort Nelson customers, are approved on a permanent basis, effective July 1, 2024.
2. Directive 1a of Order G-77-24 is varied such that FEI is approved, for the Revelstoke service area only, to implement the RNG Blend service, including the S&T RNG Rider, effective October 1, 2024, and to continue collecting the biomethane variance account (BVA) delivery rate rider (Rider 3) from Revelstoke customers until that time.
3. FEI is directed to file revised Tariff pages for BCUC endorsement as may be directed when the BCUC renders its final decision on the Implementation of the RNG Blend Service, S&T RNG Rider, and Changes to the RNG Charge Application.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 29th day of August 2024.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
E. B. Lockhart
Commissioner