IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, Chapter 473
and
an Application by FortisBC Inc. and FortisBC Energy Inc.
for Approval to Implement an On-Bill Financing Two-Year Pilot Program
in the South Okanagan Area Effective November 1, 2012
BEFORE: L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner
N.E. MacMurchy, Commissioner August 1, 2013
B.A. Magnan, Commissioner
D.M. Morton, Commissioner
O R D E R
WHEREAS:
A. The Clean Energy Act, section 17.1, requires prescribed public utilities to offer financing to eligible persons for improving the energy efficiency of a building, or part of a building. FortisBC Inc. (FBC), and FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) are prescribed public utilities for the purposes of section 17.1 of the Clean Energy Act;
B. On July 24, 2012, the Improvement Financing Regulation was issued and subsequently amended on September 13, 2012 (Regulation), providing further requirements and prescriptions for the financing program to be established by a prescribed public utility. The Regulation specified the scope and certain terms and conditions of the home improvement financing that FBC and FEI (collectively, FortisBC) must offer to eligible persons in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, British Columbia for a two-year period beginning November 1, 2012;
C. On October 5, 2012, FortisBC applied for approval, pursuant to the Clean Energy Act, section 17.1(9) and sections 58 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act, of an On-Bill Financing Two-Year Pilot Program in the South Okanagan Area effective November 1, 2012;
D. On October 15, 2012, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) issued Information Requests to FortisBC and a request to stakeholders for comments on the Application;
E. On October 23, 2012, comments were received from the British Columbia Public Interest Advocacy Centre (BCPIAC) on behalf of the British Columbia Pensioners’ and Seniors’ Organization (BCPSO);
F. By Order G-163-12 dated October 30, 2012, the Commission approved the FortisBC On-Bill Financing Pilot Program;
G. On June 28, 2013, BCPIAC, on behalf of its client BCPSO, filed a Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) application with the Commission in the amount of $1,106.79 with respect to its participation in the FortisBC On-Bill Financing Pilot Program Application. BCPIAC stated that they had spoken with a representative of FortisBC Inc. who indicated that FortisBC would not object to the late PACA submission.
H. On July 17, 2013, FortisBC indicated they had no comments on BCPSO’s PACA application and submitted it would be fair for the Commission to issue its order for reimbursement to both Companies on a 50/50 basis;
I. The Commission has reviewed BCPSO’s PACA application with regard to the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines in Commission Order G‑72-07 and concluded that cost awards should be approved for the amount set out in the PACA application and apportioned between FEI and FBC on a 50/50 basis.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to sections 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission orders as follows:
1. Approval of cost award for the British Columbia Public Interest Advocacy Centre on behalf of the British Columbia Pensioners’ and Seniors’ Organization in the amount of $1,106.79 for its participation in the FortisBC Inc. (FBC) and FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) Application to Implement an On-Bill Financing Two-Year Pilot Program in the South Okanagan Area effective November 1, 2012.
2. FEI is directed to reimburse $553.40 to the above-noted participant in a timely manner.
3. FBC is directed to reimburse $553.39 to the above-noted participant in a timely manner.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 1st day of August 2013.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
D.M. Morton
Commissioner