In proceeding 29010, the Office of the Utilities Consumer Advocate (UCA) files an application for a review and variance of Decision 28576-D02-2024. Particularly, the UCA questions the approved changes to Fortis’ Rate 21. The UCA asserts that Fortis’s acquisition of the Tomahawk REA in November of 2023 constitutes new material facts that may have had bearing on the decision.[1]
In proceeding 28358, the Alberta Utilities Commission (the Commission) issues its decision regarding compensation for site transfers between FortisAlberta Inc. (Fortis) and the rural electrification association (REA) Battle River Power Coop REA Ltd. (Battle River Power).
Over five years ago, several municipalities with which Fortis has a franchise agreement, annexed land that overlapped with existing REA service areas. Fortis requested that the REA areas be altered to align with its municipal franchise agreements. In Decision 22164-D01-2018, the Commission granted Fortis’s request contingent on there being a municipal bylaw requiring customers in the annexed area to connect to Fortis. Since then, many successful transfers have taken place between REAs and Fortis. However, a transfer of 50 sites remained outstanding for which Forts and Battle River Power could not come to an agreement.[1]
In Proceeding 28358, FortisAlberta Inc. (Fortis) and Battle River Power Coop (Battle River Power) submit their arguments and reply arguments to the Alberta Utilities Commission regarding their positions on the compensation for an asset transfer between the two companies. Battle River Power’s arguments focus on trusting that their valuation is more accurate since they constructed the assets, and they argue that Fortis’s application is procedurally incomplete. Fortis’s arguments centre on demonstrating that their valuation is more closely aligned with the Commission’s practice and that their application is procedurally valid.
In Proceeding 28358, FortisAlberta Inc. (Fortis) requests the Alberta Utilities Commission (the Commission) to determine the amount of compensation that Fortis is to pay to Battle River Power Coop REA Ltd. (Battle River Power) for the transfer of electric distribution assets. The assets are in several municipalities that have recently passed bylaws requiring Battle River Power customers within municipal boundaries to take distribution services from Fortis.
In proceeding 27084, interveners submit their arguments over the matters put forward by the Alberta Utilities Commission (the Commission) regarding the generic cost of capital (GCOC). The Commission had already decided to proceed with a formulaic approach that was previously approved in 2009 and had asked interveners to provide recommendations for the formula’s variables. Interveners previously submited evidence detailing their variable recommendations and have since provided arguments supporting their evidence. However, some interveners continue to argue against the formulaic approach, and most proposed a specific return on equity (ROE) ratios for the 2024 GCOC. A significant portion of argument focused on debating whether business risk has increased or decreased in the province and why the level of risk justifies each intervener’s proposal.
In Proceeding 27658, intervenors submit their information requests that address several topics in the standards of service and maximum investment levels (MILs) for residential services proceeding. These information requests fall in line with one or several topics included in the February 2023 issues list. Parties addressed information requests to the following intervenors: the distribution facility owners (DFOs) (ATCO Electric Ltd., ENMAX Power Corporation, EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc., FortisAlberta Inc.), the Developers (Anthem Properties, BILD Alberta, Melcor Developments Ltd.), the Municipalities (Alberta Municipalities, City of Airdrie), the Alberta Federation of Rural Electrification Associations (AFREA), and the Utilities Consumer Advocate (UCA).
In Proceedings 27671 and 27672, the Alberta Utilities Commission (the Commission) issues its decision regarding the 2023 revenue requirements and proposed rates of ATCO Electric Ltd. (ATCO) and FortisAlberta Inc. (FortisAlberta). For ATCO and FortisAlberta, this concludes the rebasing cost-of-service review in preparation for the third term of performance-based regulation (PBR).