Orders

IN THE MATTER OF

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

and

Applications for Participant Assistance/Cost Awards

in the Application by FortisBC Energy Utilities

for Acceptance of the 2014 Long Term Resource Plan

BEFORE:               D.M. Morton, Commissioner

                                C.A. Brown, Commissioner

                                H.G. Harowitz, Commissioner                                     February 10, 2015

                                I.F. MacPhail, Commissioner

O  R  D  E  R

WHEREAS:

A.    By Order G-72-07 dated July 5, 2007, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) approved Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) Guidelines, included as Appendix A to the Order. Pursuant to the PACA Guidelines, an application for a cost award must be made by filing a written application with the Commission within thirty days following the last day of a Proceeding;

B.    On March 25, 2014, FortisBC Energy Utilities (FEU), comprised of FortisBC Energy Inc., FortisBC Energy (Vancouver Island) Inc. and FortisBC Energy (Whistler) Inc., filed their 2014 Long Term Resource Plan pursuant to section 44.1 of the Utilities Commission Act for acceptance by the Commission (Application);

C.    By Order G-56-14 dated April 16, 2014, the Commission established a Regulatory Timetable outlining a written hearing process, to review the Application;

D.    The Proceeding concluded on September 17, 2014, coincident with FEU’s Reply Argument. On December 03, 2014, the Commission issued Order G-189-14 and the accompanying Reasons for Decision regarding the Application;

E.    By October 9, 2014, the Commission received PACA Applications from the following interveners in the Proceeding:

•         British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al.,

•         B.C. Sustainable Energy Association and the Sierra Club of British Columbia,

•         Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia;

F.    Pursuant to the PACA Guidelines, the FEU were provided an opportunity to comment on the PACA Applications and submitted their letter of comment dated October 21, 2014.

G.   The Commission Panel has reviewed the PACA applications and comments from the FEU in accordance with the PACA Guidelines and considers that approval is warranted

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

1.    Funding is awarded to the following interveners for their participation in the FortisBC Energy Utilities 2014 Long Term Resource Plan proceeding:

2.    FortisBC Energy Utilities is directed to reimburse the above participants for the respective amounts that have been awarded in a timely manner.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this              10^th           day of February, 2015.

                                                                                                                                BY ORDER

                                                                                                                                Original signed by:

                                                                                                                                D.M. Morton

                                                                                                                                Commissioner