Orders

ORDER NUMBER

F-18-25

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

FortisBC Energy Inc.

Application for the Regional Gas Supply Diversity Development Account Cost Recovery

Participant Cost Award Application

BEFORE:

B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

on June 26, 2025

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On December 20, 2024, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), seeking approval to transfer the balance in the non-rate base Regional Gas Supply Diversity (RGSD) Development Account to a rate base deferral account, and to recover the balance in the deferral account over three years, commencing January 1, 2026 (Application);

B.      By Order G-4-25, dated January 10, 2025, the BCUC established a written hearing process and a regulatory timetable for review of the Application, which included public notice, one round of BCUC and intervener information requests, and final and reply arguments;

C.      British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO) and the Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (the CEC) registered as interveners in the proceeding;

D.      By Order G-123-25, dated May 15, 2025, the BCUC approved FEI to transfer the balance in the non-rate base RGSD Development Account to a rate base deferral account effective January 1, 2026, and to recover the balance in the rate base deferral account over three years;

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

F.       By letter dated June 17, 2025, FEI provided its comments on the PCA applications, stating that it has no further comment on the PCA applications if the BCUC is satisfied that participants met the eligibility requirements, the time and amounts claimed are reasonable and appropriate, and the participation aligns with the BCUC’s PCA rules and criteria; and

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

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118 of the UCA, the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       Costs are awarded to the following participants in the listed amounts for their participation in the FEI RGSD Development Account Cost Recovery 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      26^th       day of June 2025.

BY ORDER

Electronically signed by Bernard Magnan

B. A. Magnan

Commissioner