Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-5-21

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

FortisBC Energy Inc.

Application for Approval of an Operating Agreement

between the Corporation of the City of Nelson and FortisBC Energy Inc.

 

BEFORE:

R. I. Mason, Panel Chair

W. M. Everett, QC, Commissioner

B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

 

on January 8, 2021

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On December 9, 2020, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) pursuant to section 23(1)(g) of the Utilities Commission Act for approval of an operating agreement entered into between the Corporation of the City of Nelson (City of Nelson) and FEI, effective March 1, 2021 (FEI-Nelson Operating Agreement or Application);

B.      FEI, through its predecessor companies Inland Natural Gas Co. Ltd. and Terasen Gas Inc., and the City of Nelson entered into a franchise agreement approved by BCUC Order C-16-80, dated June 12, 1980, and later a Franchise Amendment Agreement approved by BCUC Order C-3-04, dated May 13, 2004. The Franchise Amendment Agreement expires on February 28, 2021;

C.      FEI requests interim approval of the FEI-Nelson Operating Agreement effective March 1, 2021 if a final determination by the BCUC is not made prior the expiry of the Franchise Amendment Agreement; and

D.      The BCUC has reviewed the Application and considers that establishment of a public hearing is warranted.

 

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       A public hearing is established for the review of the Application in accordance with the regulatory timetable, attached as Appendix A to this order.

2.       FEI must publish, no later than January 28, 2021, on its website and in display-ad format, the Public Notice attached as Appendix B to this order. Publication should be in such appropriate news publications as may properly provide adequate notice to FEI customers in the City of Nelson.

3.       FEI must publish notice of the Application on its social media platforms on or before January 28, 2021 and must publish weekly reminder notices on each of these platforms until the conclusion of the intervener registration period on February 11, 2021.

4.       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. Alternatively, parties may register as an interested party or submit a letter of comment through the letter of comment form available on the BCUC website.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this                8^th               day of January 2021.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

R. I. Mason

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

 

 

FortisBC Energy Inc.

Application for Approval of an Operating Agreement

between the Corporation of the City of Nelson and FortisBC Energy Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF NELSON AND FORTISBC ENERGY INC.

On December 9, 2020, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for approval of an operating agreement with the City of Nelson. The operating agreement between both parties outlines the terms of administering and operating gas distribution facilities within the City of Nelson.

 

More information on the application can be found at bcuc.com on our “Current Proceedings” page.

 

For more information on getting involved, please visit our website (www.bcuc.com/get-involved) or contact us at the information below.

 

GET MORE INFORMATION
FortisBC Energy Inc. Regulatory Affairs 16705 Fraser Highway Surrey, BC  V4N 0E8   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