Orders

ORDER NUMBER

F-7-19

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

FortisBC Energy Inc.

2017 Long Term Gas Resource Plan

Participant Assistance/Cost Award Application

BEFORE:

K. A. Keilty, Commissioner/Panel Chair

A. K. Fung, QC, Commissioner

R. D. Revel, Commissioner

on April 1, 2019

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On December 14, 2017, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) filed its 2017 Long Term Gas Resource Plan (LTGRP) pursuant to section 44.1 of the Utilities Commission Act, for acceptance by the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC). FEI is not seeking approval of any particular elements identified within the LTGRP;

B.      By Order G-33-18 dated February 7, 2018, the BCUC established a written hearing process to review the LTGRP;

C.      BC Sustainable Energy Association and Sierra Club BC (BCSEA), British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) and Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (CEC) registered as interveners;

D.      The BCUC and interveners submitted two rounds of information requests (IRs) to FEI on the LTGRP, to which FEI provided responses;

E.       On August 9, 2018, BCSEA filed intervener evidence. The BCUC, FEI and CEC submitted IRs on the intervener evidence;

F.       On October 11, 2018, FEI filed rebuttal evidence to BCSEA’s evidence. The BCUC and interveners submitted IRs on FEI’s rebuttal evidence;

G.      On November 22, 2018, FEI filed its final argument. On December 6, 2018, BCSEA and CEC filed final arguments, and on December 20, 2018, FEI filed its reply argument;

H.      The following participants filed Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) applications with the BCUC with respect to their participation in the proceeding:

I.        By letter dated March 26, 2019, FEI provided its comments on the PACA applications, stating that it has no further comments if the BCUC is satisfied that the participants have met the eligibility requirements, that the funding days claimed is appropriate, and that the level of participation has met with the BCUC’s criteria and requirements; and

J.        The BCUC has reviewed the PACA applications in accordance with the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines, attached to BCUC Order G-97-17, and concludes that the cost awards should be approved.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       Funding is awarded to the following interveners in the listed amounts for their participation in the FortisBC Energy Inc. 2017 Long Term Gas Resource Plan proceeding:

2.       FortisBC Energy Inc. is directed to reimburse the above-noted participants for the awarded amounts in a timely manner.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this                 1^st                  day of April 2019.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

K. A. Keilty

Commissioner