Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473

and

An Application by Cal-Gas Inc.

for Approval of an Increase to Propane Rates at the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

BEFORE:               L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner                                           November 1, 2012

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.      By Order C-16-01 dated November 12, 2001, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) approved a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for Cal-Gas Inc. (Cal-Gas) to construct and operate an underground propane grid system at the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (KHMR or the Resort) near Golden, British Columbia;

B.      By Order C-19-06 dated October 27, 2006, the Commission issued a CPCN that expanded the area at the Resort to be served by the propane grid system, and approved an Amended Agreement with Kicking Horse Mountain Development Corporation and Terms and Conditions of Service and Rate Schedules for the Resort;

C.      By letter dated October 3, 2012, Cal-Gas applied to the Commission for approval to increase the variable delivery and margin components of propane rates for customers at KHMR by 2.41 cents per liter and charge a fixed monthly administration fee of $14.00 per monthly invoice (the Application);

D.      Cal-Gas provided a customer notice of the Application and the requested rate increase to all propane customers at KHMR by way of letter dated October 4, 2012;

E.       By Order G-153-12A dated October 18, 2012, the Commission established a Written Hearing process for review of the Application and a Regulatory Timetable for submissions;

F.       The Commission has received correspondence from several Cal-Gas customers objecting to the requested rate increase and the deadline for registration of Interveners and Interested Parties set by Order G-153-12A;

G.     The Commission reviewed the Application and the correspondence from Cal-Gas customers and has determined that an amended Regulatory Timetable is warranted in order to allow additional time for Intervener and Interested Party registration and submissions.

NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:

1.       The Regulatory Timetable established by Order G-153-12A is amended and attached in Appendix A of the Order.

2.       Cal-Gas will provide a copy of this Order by way of letter to all customers no later than Wednesday, November 7, 2012.

3.       Interveners and Interested Parties should inform the Commission Secretary in writing, or on-line via the Commission’s website at http://www.bcuc.com, by Friday, November 16, 2012, of their intention to actively intervene in the proceeding, or become Interested Parties. 

4.       Cal-Gas’ current propane rates, as they are applicable solely to customers at the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, are interim effective December 1, 2012, pending the outcome of the Application.  If the permanent rates are less than the interim rates, Cal-Gas is to refund to customers the difference in revenue with interest at the average prime rate of the principal bank with which Cal-Gas conducts its business.  If the permanent rates exceed the interim rates, Cal-Gas is to reflect the difference in customer rates over the balance of 2013.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this         1^st              of November 2012.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                L.F. Kelsey

                                                                                                                                Commissioner

Attachment

An Application by Cal-Gas Inc.

for Approval of an Increase to Propane Rates at the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

AMENDED REGULATORY TIMETABLE