Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-64-19

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

FortisBC Energy Inc. and FortisBC Inc.

Application for Approval of a Multi-Year Rate Plan for the Years 2020 through 2024

 

BEFORE:

D. A. Cote, Panel Chair

A. K. Fung, QC, Commissioner

K. A. Keilty, Commissioner

E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner

 

on March 20, 2019

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On March 11, 2019, FortisBC Energy Inc. and FortisBC Inc. (collectively, FortisBC) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for approval of a proposed Multi-Year Rate Plan for the years 2020 through 2024, pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (Application);

B.      The Application seeks approval of a rate-setting framework for FortisBC for the upcoming five years, including incentive mechanisms, an innovation fund, a forecast of capital expenditures, and service quality indicators;

C.      The Application also seeks approval of the deferral accounts associated with the proposed framework and updated depreciation rates, capitalization rates and other supporting studies; and

D.      The BCUC considers that establishing a public hearing process and a regulatory timetable is warranted.

 

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       A public hearing process is established, as set out in the regulatory timetable attached as Appendix A to this order.

2.       A procedural conference regarding the regulatory process for the remaining review of the Application will be held on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, commencing at 9:00 a.m. in the BCUC Hearing Room on the 12^th floor, 1125 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC.

3.       FortisBC must publish in print/display-ad format, on or before April 5, 2019, the Notice of Application attached as Appendix B to this order, in an effort to properly provide adequate notice to those who have an interest or may be impacted by the Application. Print advertising must include, but is not limited to, the following media outlets:

•         Vancouver Sun;

•         Province;

•         Victoria Times Colonist;

•         Kelowna Daily Courier;

•         Prince George Citizen; and

•         Cranbrook Daily Townsman.

 

4.       FortisBC must publish notice of this Application on its Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook social media platforms on or before March 27, 2019, and must publish weekly reminder notices on each of these platforms until the conclusion of the intervener registration period on April 25, 2019.

5.       FortisBC is directed to publish on its website at www.fortisbc.com the Application and any supporting materials and is directed to make these materials available for inspection at FortisBC Energy Inc.,
16705 Fraser Highway, Surrey, BC, V4N 0E8 and FortisBC Inc., Suite 100, 1975 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 7V7.

6.       Parties who wish to participate in the regulatory proceeding are to register with the BCUC by completing a Request to Intervene Form by the date established in the regulatory timetable attached as Appendix A to this order and in accordance with the BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure attached to Order G-15-19.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this     20^th        day of March 2019.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

D. A. Cote

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

 

 

FortisBC Energy Inc. and FortisBC Inc.

Application for Approval of a Multi-Year Rate Plan for the Years 2020 through 2024

 

 

 

 

*Location of the workshop and procedural conference:

BCUC Hearing Room

                12^th Floor, 1125 Howe Street

                Vancouver, BC  V6Z 2K8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FORTISBC MULTI-YEAR RATE PLAN

On March 11, 2019, FortisBC Energy Inc. and FortisBC Inc. (collectively, FortisBC) filed an application for approval of a proposed multi-year rate plan for 2020 to 2024. The Application seeks BCUC approval of FortisBC’s proposed framework for how it will set rates over the upcoming five years, including incentive mechanisms, an innovation fund, a forecast of capital expenditures, and service quality indicators. More information on the application can be found at www.bcuc.com on our “Current Proceedings” page, a hard copy of the application is also available for review at the BCUC’s office and FortisBC’s offices in Surrey and Kelowna.

 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE	IMPORTANT DATES
Submit a letter of comment        Register as an interested party        Request intervener status        Attend the FortisBC Workshop*        Attend the Procedural Conference**	Thursday, April 25, 2019 – Deadline to register as an intervener with the BCUC        Wednesday, May 1, 2019 – FortisBC Workshop commencing at 9am in Vancouver, BC*        Tuesday, July 9, 2019 – Procedural Conference commencing at 9am in Vancouver, BC**
For more information on getting involved, please visit our website (www.bcuc.com/get-involved) or contact us at the information below.

*All parties who wish to attend the FortisBC workshop must register with FortisBC (gas.regulatory.affairs@fortisbc.com) by 4 p.m. on Monday, April 29, 2019.

**All parties who wish to attend the procedural conference must register with the BCUC (commission.secretary@bcuc.com) by 4 p.m. on Friday, July 5, 2019.

GET MORE INFORMATION
FortisBC 16705 Fraser Highway Surrey, BC, V4N 0E8 Suite 100, 1975 Springfield Road Kelowna, BC, V1Y 7V7   E:  gas.regulatory.affairs@fortisbc.com   P: 604.592.7664	British Columbia Utilities Commission Suite 410, 900 Howe Street Vancouver, BC Canada  V6Z 2N3   E:  commission.secretary@bcuc.com   P: 604.660.4700