Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-64-20

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

FortisBC Energy Inc.

Application to Rescind Orders G-47-20 for Revelstoke and G-48-20 for the Fort Nelson Service Area regarding its 2020 First Quarter Gas Cost Reports and Rate Changes effective April 1, 2020

BEFORE:

T. A. Loski, Commissioner

on March 26, 2020

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On March 25, 2020, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) requesting the BCUC rescind Orders G-47-20 and G-48-20 which established the Commodity Cost Recovery Charges for Revelstoke and Fort Nelson Service Area, respectively (Application); 

B.      By Order G-47-20 dated March 12, 2020, the BCUC approved an increase of $0.709 per gigajoule ($/GJ) in customer rates, as applied for by FEI on March 4, 2020 in its 2020 First Quarter Gas Cost Report and Rate Changes Application for Revelstoke, effective April 1, 2020;

C.      By Order G-48-20 dated March 12, 2020, the BCUC approved an increase of $0.815/GJ, from $1.048/GJ to $1.863/GJ, in the Commodity Cost Recovery Charge applicable to the Sales Rate Classes, as applied for by FEI on March 4, 2020 in its 2020 First Quarter Gas Cost Report and Rate Changes for the Fort Nelson Service Area, effective April 1, 2020;

D.      In the Application, FEI proposes to defer any gas cost rate increases at this time as a result of the current global COVID-19 pandemic, the State of Emergency declared in British Columbia, and the rapidly growing impact on British Columbians;

E.       FEI proposes that gas cost rates for Revelstoke and the Fort Nelson Service Area remain at existing rates, effective April 1, 2020, and be reviewed in normal course at the next quarterly gas cost report filing in June; and 

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

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 61(4) of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       The BCUC hereby rescinds Orders G-47-20 and G-48-20, dated March 12, 2020.

2.       FEI will maintain the gas cost rates for Revelstoke and the Fort Nelson Service Area at existing rates, effective April 1, 2020.

3.       FEI is directed to file revised tariff pages with the BCUC within 15 days of this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this         26^th day          of March 2020.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

T. A. Loski

Commissioner