Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-155-16

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

Stargas Utilities Ltd.

Application to Vary Delivery Rate, Amend Cost of Service Formula and

Approve Replacement Term Financing/Redemption of Preferred Shares

BEFORE:

H. G. Harowitz, Commissioner

D. J. Enns, Commissioner

M. Kresivo, Commissioner

R. I. Mason, Commissioner

R. D. Revel, Commissioner

on October 6, 2016

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On September 26, 2016, Stargas Utilities Ltd. (Stargas) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) for, among other things, interim and permanent approval of a $0.45 per gigajoule delivery rate decrease for all customers, effective November 1, 2016 (Application);

B.      The Application also requests the approval of replacement term financing, the redemption of $100,000 of preferred shares, amendments to the cost of service formula and an increase to the rates for management services; and

C.      The Commission has commenced review of the Application and finds that the establishment of a regulatory timetable and approval of the requested delivery rate decrease on an interim and refundable basis is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the British Columbia Utilities Commission orders as follows:

1.       Pursuant to section 89 of the Utilities Commission Act, Stargas Utilities Ltd.’s application for an interim delivery rate decrease of $0.45 per gigajoule for all customers, effective November 1, 2016, is approved on an interim and refundable basis.

2.       Any variance between the interim rates and the permanent rates as determined by the Commission following final disposition of the Application are subject to refund/recovery, with interest at the average prime rate of Stargas Utilities Ltd.’s principal bank for its most recent year.

3.       Stargas Utilities Ltd. is directed to file the interim tariff pages with the Commission within 10 business days of the issuance of this order.

4.       Stargas Utilities Ltd. is directed to provide notice of the Application and this order to affected customers by Friday, October 21, 2016. Stargas Utilities Ltd. is also directed to post a copy of this order on the Stargas Utilities Ltd. website and at all Silver Star Resort centres.

5.       The Regulatory Timetable for the review of the Application is established as set out in Appendix A to this order.

6.       Interveners who wish to participate in the regulatory proceeding are to register with the Commission by completing a Request to Intervene Form, available on the Commission’s website at http://www.bcuc.com/Registration-Intervener-1.aspx by the date established in the Regulatory Timetable attached as Appendix A to this order and in accordance with the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this        6^th           day of October 2016.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

H. G. Harowitz

Commissioner

Attachment

Stargas Utilities Ltd.

Application to Vary Delivery Rate, Amend Cost of Service Formula and

Approve Replacement Term Financing/Redemption of Preferred Shares

REGULATORY TIMETABLE