ORDER NUMBER
G-50-26
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Energy Inc.
2026 First Quarter Gas Cost Report for the Mainland and Vancouver Island,
and the Fort Nelson Service Areas, effective April 1, 2026
BEFORE:
E. A. Brown, Commissioner
B. A. Magnan, Commissioner
R. E. Murphy, Commissioner
W. E. Royle, Commissioner
On March 12, 2026
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On March 4, 2026, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) filed its 2026 First Quarter Gas Cost Report (First Quarter Gas Cost Report) for the Mainland and Vancouver Island, and the Fort Nelson Service Areas. The First Quarter Gas Cost Report addresses the following:
i. The Commodity Cost Reconciliation Account (CCRA),
ii. The Midstream Cost Reconciliation Account (MCRA), and
iii. Review of the Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Charge for Voluntary RNG Service to Non-Natural Gas Vehicle (non-NGV) sales customers;
B. The British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) established guidelines for gas cost rate setting in Letter L-5-01 dated February 5, 2001, and further modified the guidelines in Letter L-40-11 dated May 19, 2011, and L-15-16 dated June 17, 2016 (together the Guidelines);
C. By Order G-244-23 dated September 14, 2023, the BCUC approved the current Commodity Cost Recovery Charge (CCRC) applicable to the sales rate classes and Rate Schedule 46 LNG Service for the Mainland and Vancouver Island, and the Fort Nelson Service Areas at $2.230 per gigajoule (GJ) effective October 1, 2023;
D. By Order G-88-25 dated April 3, 2025, the BCUC approved the RNG Charge for Voluntary RNG service for non-NGV sales customers applicable to Rate Schedules 1RNG, 2RNG, 3RNG, 5RNG, 7RNG, and 46 at $9.230/GJ, on a permanent basis effective April 1, 2025;
E. In the First Quarter Gas Cost Report, FEI seeks approval of the following, effective April 1, 2026:
i. To decrease the CCRC by $0.570/GJ from $2.230/GJ to $1.660/GJ; and
ii. To decrease the RNG Charge for Voluntary RNG service to non-NGV sales customers by $0.570/GJ from$9.230/GJ to $8.660/GJ;
F. FEI submits that the effects of the proposed rate changes within the 2026 First Quarter Gas Cost Report would result in the following estimated bill impacts:
i. Decrease the total annual bill for a typical Mainland and Vancouver Island residential customer with an average annual consumption of 90 GJ by approximately $50 or 3.8 percent;
ii. Decrease the total annual bill for a typical Mainland and Vancouver Island Voluntary RNG service Rate Schedule 1RNG residential customer with an average annual consumption of 90 GJ, based on a defined ratio of 10 percent biomethane, by approximately $50 or 3.7 percent; and
iii. Decrease the total annual bill for a typical Fort Nelson residential customer with an average consumption of 125 GJ by approximately $69 or 4.5 percent;
G. FEI requests that Tabs 4 and 5 of the First Quarter Gas Report be kept confidential as they contain market-sensitive information; and
H. The BCUC has reviewed the First Quarter Gas Report and considers that the following determinations are warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders as follows:
1. FEI is approved to decrease the CCRC applicable to the sales rate classes and Rate Schedule 46 LNG Service within the Mainland and Vancouver Island, and the Fort Nelson Service Areas by $0.570/GJ, from $2.230/GJ to $1.660/GJ, effective April 1, 2026.
2. FEI is approved to decrease the RNG Charge for Voluntary RNG service to non-NGV sales customers applicable to Rate Schedules 1RNG, 2RNG, 3RNG, 5RNG, 7RNG, and 46 LNG Service, within the Mainland and Vancouver Island, and the Fort Nelson Service Areas by $0.570/GJ, from $9.230/GJ to $8.660/GJ, effective April 1, 2026.
3. FEI is directed to notify all customers who are affected by the rate changes resulting from this order with a bill insert or bill message to be included with the next monthly gas billing.
4. Tab 4 and Tab 5 of the First Quarter Gas Cost Report will be held confidential unless the BCUC determines otherwise.
5. FEI is directed to file with the BCUC amended tariff pages reflecting the rates approved in accordance with the terms of this order within 15 days of this order.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 12th day of March 2026.
BY ORDER
Electronically signed by Rose Elise Murphy
R. E. Murphy
Commissioner