Orders

ORDER NUMBER

C-4-18

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd.

Application for Approval of the Franchise Agreement with the Corporation of the Village of Pouce Coupe

BEFORE:

B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

on June 26, 2018

CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY

WHEREAS:

A.      Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. (PNG[NE]) and the Corporation of the Village of Pouce Coupe (Municipality) entered into a franchise agreement dated January 1, 1996 (1996 Franchise Agreement). British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) Order C-8-97 approved the 1996 Franchise Agreement. The term of the 1996 Franchise Agreement was set to expire on December 31, 2016;

B.      On December 13, 2016, PNG(NE) and the Municipality entered into interim operating arrangements to provide for the continued service to customers in the franchise area while the negotiation and approval of new franchise terms were conducted;

C.      On September 6, 2017, the Municipality adopted a bylaw approving the renewal of the 1996 Franchise Agreement with PNG(NE) (2017 Franchise Agreement);

D.      On October 2, 2017, PNG(NE) applied to the BCUC for approval of the 2017 Franchise Agreement, dated September 6, 2017, for a term of 21 years expiring on December 31, 2037, pursuant to section 45(7) of the Utilities Commission Act, and as required under section 2.1(b) of the 2017 Franchise Agreement;

E.       On May 28, 2018, PNG(NE) filed an amended 2017 Franchise Agreement (Amended Agreement) to the BCUC for approval; and

F.       The BCUC has reviewed the Amended Agreement and considers that approval is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 45(7) of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       The Amended Agreement is approved effective the date of this order.

2.       PNG(NE) is directed to file the fully executed Amended Agreement and a copy of any Municipality approvals within 60 days of this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this               26^th                  day of June, 2018.

BY ORDER

Original signed by

B. A. Magnan

Commissioner