Orders

ORDER NUMBER

A-6-24

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

Access Gas Services Inc.

Application for a Gas Marketer Licence

under the Customer Choice Program

 

BEFORE:

B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner

W. E. Royle, Commissioner

 

on October 31, 2024

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      Section 71.1(1) of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) requires a person who is not a public utility and who performs a gas marketing activity for low-volume consumers to hold a Gas Marketer Licence issued by the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC);

B.      The BCUC established Rules for Gas Marketers (Rules) pursuant to subsection 71.1(10) of the UCA to assist with the administration of Gas Marketer licensing. Attachment 1 of the Rules sets out the Licence Requirements and Application Instructions (Licence Requirements). The BCUC reviews and updates the Rules for Gas Marketers from time to time, most recently on October 18, 2013 by Order A-12-13; 

C.      On August 28, 2024, Access Gas Services Inc. (Access Gas) applied to the BCUC for a Gas Marketer Licence for the period November 1, 2024 to October 31, 2025 (Application). The Application included the payment of the $1,000 Application Fee and proof of sufficient financial resources, pursuant to Sections 4, 6 and 7 of the Licence Requirements;

D.      Access Gas requests that the BCUC hold the Application confidential on the basis that the contents are commercially sensitive; and

E.       The BCUC has reviewed Access Gas’ Application and relying upon the information and representations made by Access Gas and finds that issuance of a Gas Marketer Licence, subject to certain conditions, is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 71.1 of the UCA and Order A-12-13, the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       A Gas Marketer Licence is issued to Access Gas for the period of November 1, 2024 to October 31, 2025.

2.       Access Gas’ Application will be held confidential unless the BCUC determines otherwise.

3.       This Gas Marketer Licence is subject to the following conditions:

a.       Access Gas must carry out the undertakings as provided in its Application for a Gas Marketer Licence and as set out in the Rules for Gas Marketers established by Order A-12-13.

b.       Access Gas must comply with the Code of Conduct for Gas Marketers and Rate Schedule 36 of FortisBC Energy Inc.

c.       Access Gas shall ensure that its employees, salespersons or other representatives of its products and services comply with the standards required of a Gas Marketer as set out in the Code of Conduct for Gas Marketers. Access Gas shall be responsible for any non-compliance of its employees, salespersons or other representatives of its products and services.

d.       Access Gas must maintain the proof of financial resources submitted to satisfy Sections 4, 6 and 7 of the Licence Requirements, in full force and effect for the duration of the Gas Marketer Licence.

e.       Pursuant to section 10 of the Rules, in order to maintain compliance with Licence Requirements, the following information must be submitted to the BCUC for review and approval, as it becomes available:

i.         The most recent version of the documents that Access Gas provided to demonstrate that it continues to satisfy Sections 4, 6 and 7 under the Licence Requirements.

ii.       The most recent version of the documents submitted under Sections 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the Licence Requirements prior to use.

f.        The BCUC may, pursuant to section 11 of the Rules, amend or impose new terms and conditions on, suspend, or cancel the Gas Marketer Licence.

g.       Access Gas must notify the BCUC of any material change in circumstances that adversely affects or is likely to adversely affect the business, operations or assets of Access Gas as soon as practicable, but in any event no more than fifteen (15) calendar days past the date upon which such change occurs.

h.       Access Gas must strictly adhere to the Third-Party Verification script(s), as approved by the BCUC.

i.         Access Gas must file verification script(s) for customers who select the “Access Gas Prime Rate Plan” with the BCUC within 15 days of this order.

i.         The Gas Marketer Licence and all copies of it shall remain the property of the BCUC. Access Gas will return these documents upon written request from the BCUC.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this             31^st            day of October 2024.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

B. A. Magnan

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

Licence No. A-6-24

GAS  MARKETER  LICENCE     Access Gas Services Inc.       is granted a licence for the purpose of providing advice to, or acting on behalf of, residential and commercial customers purchasing gas directly in the Province of British Columbia subject to the terms and conditions contained in BCUC Order A-6-24, which are set out on the reverse of the Licence.     BRITISH COLUMBIA UTILITIES COMMISSION                                                                                                                                       Original signed by: _____________________________________________                                                                                                                              B. A. Magnan, Commissioner   ISSUED: October 31, 2024 EFFECTIVE: November 1, 2024 EXPIRES: October 31, 2025