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 Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project
Information Request Related to Kelowna Electric Utility Purchase
BEFORE: L.F. Kelsey, Commissioner
D.M. Morton, Commissioner February 13, 2013
N.E. MacMurchy, Commissioner
O R D E R
WHEREAS:
A. On July 26, 2012, FortisBC Inc. (FortisBC) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC or Commission) pursuant to section 45, 46 and 56 of the Utilities Commission Act (Act), for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) and approval of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Project (Project), including a revised depreciation rate for the proposed meters to be installed (Application);
B. On September 13, 2012, by Order G-124-12, the Commission issued an Amended Preliminary Regulatory Timetable, with BCUC and Intervener Information Requests No. 2 due by November 23, 2012;
C. On November 13, 2012, FortisBC filed a separate application with the Commission to purchase the electric utility assets of the City of Kelowna;
D. On November 16, 2012, FortisBC filed an addendum (Exhibit B-1-2) to its Application to include an assessment of Project costs and benefits with the addition of the City of Kelowna’s electric utility assets under its AMI Project;
E. On November 20, 2012, FortisBC filed the Excel file (Exhibit B-1-3) containing the financial analysis in its November 16, 2012 filing of the addendum;
F. On November 23, 2012, BCUC and Intervener Information Requests No. 2 were issued according to the established Timetable;
G. On December 4, 2012, the Commission issued a letter (Exhibit A-16) seeking written comments from the Interveners on whether there is a need for an additional Information Request with a focus only on the AMI financial impacts of the proposed purchase of the Kelowna electric utility. Interveners were to submit comments by January 17, 2013, with FortisBC reply by January 24, 2013;
H. On January 17, 2013, the BC Residential Utility Customers Association (BCRUCA) submitted its letter of comment (Exhibit C8-4), stating that additional Information Requests related to the Kelowna acquisition were not necessary;
I. On January 17, 2013, the BC Pensioners and Seniors Organization (BCPSO) submitted a letter (Exhibit C3-5) stating that it would likely participate if additional Information Requests were allowed to seek clarification regarding certain items in the Addendum (Exhibit B-1-2) and financial analysis (Exhibit B-1-3);
J. On January 7, 2013, the BC Sustainable Energy Association and the Sierra Club of BC (BCSEA-SCBC) submitted a letter (Exhibit C4-11) requesting that FortisBC’s responses to its Information Requests 1.1 and 1.2 (Exhibit C4-2) in the separate FortisBC City of Kelowna electric utility purchase proceeding, be filed in the AMI proceeding as relevant and that beyond that no further Information Requests are necessary;
K. On January 22, 2013, FortisBC submitted its reply stating it had no objection to the request by BCSEA-SCBC to have its responses to IR 1.1 and 1.2 of the City of Kelowna electric utility purchase proceeding including in the record of the AMI proceeding and that it does not believe additional information requests are necessary;
L. On January 22, 2013, FortisBC submitted a conditional amendment to its Application for a CPCN for the AMI Project requesting that the estimated capital cost of the Project be conditional on the outcome of the application for the acquisition of the City of Kelowna electric utility assets;
M. The Commission has considered the submissions and determines that insufficient time was allowed for Commission staff and Interveners to submit Information Requests on the addendum exhibits (Exhibits B-1-2, B-1-3 and B-1-4) in the established regulatory timetable, and that Information Requests from Commission staff and BCPSO should be allowed on the financial impacts of the addendum exhibits.
NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows:
1. Commission staff and BCPSO may submit additional Information Requests to FortisBC focused on clarification and financial impacts of addendum Exhibits B-1-2, B-1-3 and B-1-4 by Wednesday, February 20, 2013.
2. FortisBC is to file its responses to Commission staff and BCPSO Information Requests by Thursday, March 21, 2013.
3. The FortisBC responses to BCSEA-SCBC Information Requests No. 1.1 and 1.2 in the FortisBC acquisition of the City of Kelowna electric utility assets proceeding, will be allowed as evidence in the FortisBC AMI proceeding and are attached as Appendix A to this Order.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 13th day of February 2013.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
D.M. Morton
Commissioner
Attachment
An Application by FortisBC Inc.
for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project
Information Request Related to Kelowna Electric Utility Purchase
Responses to BC Sustainable Energy Associate and Sierra Club of BC Information Requests 1.1 and 1.2 in the FortisBC Inc. Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity Application for the Purchase of the Utility Assets of the City of Kelowna