Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-134-16

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

Port Alice Gas Inc.

Application for Approval to Increase

the Basic Charge and Facility Charge - Exemption Application

BEFORE:

B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

on August 15, 2016

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On July 22, 2016, Port Alice Gas Inc. (PAG) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) for an exemption from Part 3 of the Utilities Commission Act in relation to PAG’s operation of the propane air grid assets and sale of propane in the Village of Port Alice (Exemption Application);

B.      On December 7, 2015, PAG applied to the Commission for an order approving an increase in the Basic Charge and the Facility Charge effective January 1, 2016 (Rate Review Application);

C.      By Order G-211-15 on December 21, 2015, the Commission approved the requested rate changes on an interim and refundable basis effective January 1, 2016;

D.      On March 14, 2016, PAG filed a submission requesting that the utility be released from its obligations to operate as a regulated utility, and that PAG and the Commission no longer invest time in the Rate Review Application while the request for PAG to be released from regulated utility operations is being considered. PAG requested that the interim increase in the Basic Charge and Facility Charge remain in effect while the requests are being considered;

E.       By Order G-45-16 on April 6, 2016, the Commission suspended the Rate Review Application subject to Directive 2 in the order, which directed PAG to file a separate application that fully describes the modifications to PAG operations that are being requested, and directed that the interim and refundable increases in the Basic Charge and the Facility Charge remain in effect until the Commission makes a future determination;

F.       The Commission received the Exemption Application and finds that it is in the public interest to proceed with a review after receiving written comments from affected parties and responses to its information request(s) on the Exemption Application.

G.      

NOW THEREFORE the British Columbia Utilities Commission orders as follows:

1.       The British Columbia Utilities Commission assigns Port Alice Gas Inc.’s application for an exemption from Part 3 of the Utilities Commission Act in relation to the operation of the propane air grid assets and sale of propane in the Village of Port Alice (Exemption Application) to be part of the Port Alice Gas Inc. Rate Review Application proceeding.

2.       The Port Alice Gas Inc. Exemption Application will be reviewed in accordance with the regulatory timetable as set out in Appendix A to this order.

3.       Port Alice Gas Inc. must provide written notification of the Exemption Application with a copy of this order to its customers and any potentially affected parties including the village of Port Alice by Monday, August 29, 2016, and provide the Commission Secretary with a copy of the notification sent to affected parties.

4.       Affected parties are to submit their comments on the Exemption Application, in writing, directly to the Commission Secretary by Monday, September 26, 2016 with a copy to Port Alice Gas Inc.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this       16^th          day of August 2016.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

B. A. Magnan

Commissioner

Attachment

Port Alice Gas Inc.

Application for Approval to Increase

the Basic Charge and Facility Charge - Exemption Application

REGULATORY TIMETABLE