Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

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

and

An Application by FortisBC Inc.

for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

for the Purchase of the Utility Assets of the City of Kelowna

Phase 2

BEFORE:               D.M. Morton, Commissioner/Panel Chair

A.A. Rhodes, Commissioner                                        November 27, 2013

                                B.A. Magnan, Commissioner

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.      On November 13, 2012, FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission), pursuant to sections 45 and 46 of the Utilities Commission Act (Act) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for an extension of its distribution system resulting from its purchase of the electricity distribution assets of the City of Kelowna (Transaction), and further sought an order pursuant to sections 59 and 60 of the Act to include the impact of the Transaction in its revenue requirements (Original Application);

B.      The Commission determined on Day 1 of the Oral Hearing for the Original Application that it considered potential rate discrimination issues to be within the scope of the proceeding and subject to a second Phase process;

C.      By Order C-4-13 dated March 1, 2013, the Commission approved the Original Application subject to certain conditions;

D.      On April 18, 2013, the Commission issued a letter to FortisBC, potential interveners and interested parties, informing these parties that a Phase 2 process will take place to address issues of potential rate discrimination arising from Tolko Industries Ltd. (Tolko) now becoming a direct customer of FortisBC (Phase 2 Proceeding).  It was also determined that FortisBC would remain as the Applicant for the Phase 2 Proceeding;

E.       By Order G-191-13 dated November 22, 2013, the Commission issued its Decision on the Phase 2 Proceeding;

F.       Between September 30, 2013 and October 18, 2013, the following Interveners filed applications for Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) funding:

•         British Columbia Sustainable Energy Association and the Sierra Club of British Columbia (BCSEA);

•         British Columbia Pensioners’ and Seniors’ Organization, et al. (BCPSO);

•         Zellstoff Celgar Limited Partnership (Celgar);

G.     The Commission has reviewed the PACA applications with regard to the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines in Commission Order G-72-07 and finds the requested amounts reasonable.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to Section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission orders as follows:

1.       The British Columbia Pensioners’ and Seniors’ Organization, et al. (BCPSO), British Columbia Sustainable Energy Association and the Sierra Club of British Columbia (BCSEA), and Zellstoff Celgar Limited Partnership (Celgar) are awarded funds in the following amounts for their participation in the Phase 2 Proceeding.

2.       FortisBC is directed to reimburse the above noted Interveners for the amounts that have been awarded.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this            27^th          day of November, 2013.

BY ORDER

                                                                                                                Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                D.M. Morton

                                                                                                                                Commissioner