ORDER NUMBER
G-29-19A
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Energy Inc.
Rate Schedule 46 – Liquefied Natural Gas Sales, Dispensing and Transportation Service
Application for Permanent Rates and Revised Tariff Pages effective January 1, 2019
BEFORE:
B. A. Magnan
Commissioner
on February 14, 2019
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On January 14, 2019, pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for the revised Rate Schedule 46 (RS 46) Table of Charges for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Transportation Service and Table of Charges for LNG Service (collectively the Tables of Charges) to be made permanent, effective January 1, 2019 (Application);
B. On December 12, 2013, the BCUC issued Order G-211-13 approving RS 46, in accordance with Order in Council (OIC) 557, B.C. Regulation 245/2013 deposited November 28, 2013, issuing Direction No. 5 to the BCUC, and effective December 12, 2013;
C. On December 24, 2014, the BCUC issued Order G-207-14, effective January 1, 2015, approving amendments to RS 46 and Direction No. 5, in accordance with OIC 749, B.C. Regulation 265/2014 deposited December 22, 2014;
D. On May 4, 2017, the BCUC issued Order G-65-17, effective May 4, 2017, approving further amendments to RS 46 and Direction No. 5, in accordance with section 5 (1.2) of OIC 162, B.C. Regulation 115/2017 deposited March 22, 2017;
E. Certain charges contained in the Tables of Charges are to be reviewed on an annual basis and adjusted as required, using the greater of two percent or British Columbia Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for the period of November of the prior year to November of the current year, which is not available until late December;
F. On November 27, 2018, due to the timing of the release of CPI November data, FEI applied to the BCUC for the existing RS 46 Table of Charges to be made interim, effective January 1, 2019;
G. On December 14, 2018, the BCUC issued Order G-243-18, approving the RS 46 Table of Charges on an interim basis, effective January 1, 2019; and
H. The BCUC has reviewed FEI’s Application and finds that approval of the Application is warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to Direction No. 5, the BCUC orders as follows:
1. The proposed amendments, including the revised rates and tariff pages, as applied for by FEI for RS 46 are approved on a permanent basis, effective January 1, 2019.
2. The variance between the interim rates and the permanent rates are to be recovered by FEI from RS 46 LNG customers, with interest at the average prime rate of FEI’s principal bank for its most recent year.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 14th day of February 2019.
BY ORDER
Original Signed by:
B. A. Magnan
Commissioner