Orders

ORDER NUMBER

F-2-21

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

FortisBC Energy Inc.

Annual Review for 2020 and 2021 Delivery Rates

Participant Assistance/Cost Award Application

BEFORE:

A. K. Fung, QC, Panel Chair

W. M. Everett, QC, Commissioner

K. A. Keilty, Commissioner

on January 11, 2021

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      June 22, 2020, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) issued its Decision and Orders G-165-20 approving a Multi-Year Rate Plan (MRP) for 2020 through 2024 (2020-2024 MRP Decision) for FortisBC Energy Inc. (FEI) and G-166-20 for FortisBC Inc. (FBC) respectively. In accordance with the 2020-2024 MRP Decision, FEI is to conduct an annual review (Annual Review) process to set the delivery rates for each year;

B.       On August 12, 2020, FEI submitted its materials for the Annual Review for 2020 and 2021 Delivery Rates Application (Application). In the Application, proposed FEI’s revenue requirements for 2020 result in a delivery rate increase of 3.27 percent over the 2019 delivery rates. FEI requested approval to make the existing 2020 interim rate permanent, effective January 1, 2020, and to capture the revenue deficiency greater than the 2 percent delivery rate increase already incorporated in the interim rate in the existing 2017 & 2018 Revenue Surplus deferral account as an offset to prior years’ revenue surpluses. The Application also requested approval of a delivery rate increase of 6.59 percent over the 2020 delivery rate, effective January 1, 2021, after drawing down the remainder of the 2017 & 2018 Revenue Surplus deferral account;

C.       The regulatory process, established by Order G-209-20, included among other things, one round of information requests, a workshop, FEI’s response to undertakings at the workshop, and written final and reply arguments;

D.      The following interveners registered in the proceeding:

•         BC Sustainable Energy Association and Sierra Club (BCSEA);

•         British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO);

•         Commercial Energy Consumers Association of British Columbia (the CEC); and

•         Movement of United Professionals (MoveUP);

E.       On December 8, 2020, by Decision and Order G-319-20, the BCUC made various determinations on the Application, including granting final approval of the requested delivery rate increases;

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

G.      On December 21, 2020, in accordance with Section 14 of the BCUC’s PACA Guidelines approved by Order
G-97-17, the BCUC sought comment from FEI on the PACA applications;

H.      On January 5, 2021, FEI submitted that it has no further comment in respect of the PACA applications, if the BCUC is satisfied that the participants have met the eligibility requirements, that the funding days claimed are appropriate, and that the level of participation has met with the BCUC’s criteria and requirements; and

I.         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 makes the following determinations.

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 respective participation in FEI’s Annual Review for 2020 and 2021 Delivery Rates proceeding:

2.       FEI 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       11^th       day of January 2021.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

A. K. Fung, QC

Commissioner