FEI-FEVI 2010 EEC Report filed March 31, 2011 - FortisBC

FORTISBC ENERGY INC. AND FORTISBC ENERGY (VANCOUVER ISLAND) INC.
2010 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION ANNUAL REPORT
Firstly, the 2009 EEC Annual Report, filed on March 31, 2010, states the Innovative
Technologies Program Area includes NGVs. The suggested framework of the Innovative
Technologies Program Area was described on Page 115:
TGI and TGVI restructured the existing portfolio list of Innovative Technologies to include
Solar Thermal Hot Water, NGV for Commercial Vehicles, Hydronic and Combination
Space Heating Systems, Residential GSHP and Commercial and Industrial GSHP
Systems. TGI and TGVI will treat NGV fuel switching from diesel as part of or normal
course of EEC activities. [Emphasis Added]
Secondly, the 2010 Long Term Resource Plan (“LTRP”), filed on July 15, 2010, describes the
Companies’ plan to pursue NGV initiatives utilizing incentive funding from the Innovative
Technologies Program Area.
The following is an excerpt from page 61 of the 2010 LTRP:
Since the Innovative Technologies portfolio was formulated, TGI has made progress with
some of the technologies, particularly to support implementation of NGV technology.
…TGI has initiated a pilot incentive program to encourage operators of heavy duty fleets
such as garbage trucks and waste haulers to switch to natural gas from higher-carbon
diesel. TGI has received expressions of interest from the City of Vancouver, City of
Surrey, City of Port Coquitlam, and other third party partner to use the EEC funding to
purchase new natural gas vehicles for garbage collection and transfer operations.
Under the provisions of the pilot program, the fleet operators would be reimbursed for the
incremental cost of the NGVs over conventional vehicles.
No issues about the proposed use of EEC incentive funding for NGVs were raised in information
requests filed in the LTRP.
As a result of the transparency of the Companies’ NGV initiatives during 2009 and 2010, the
support of stakeholders, and the fact that there were no issues raised during the LTRP
information requests, the Companies were, with respect, surprised when the issue was raised
by the Commission in the context of our Application for approval of the WM Agreement. The
Companies are hopeful that the uncertainty can now be resolved.
10.2.4 SUMMARY
NGVs represent an important element of the Innovative Technologies Program Area, and the
favourable TRC of NGV related incentives has contributed to a large measure to the favourable
TRC of the overall Innovative Technologies Program Area portfolio. The Companies understand
the Commission’s desire to ensure that EEC funding is undertaken appropriately, and we have
thus endeavoured to provide a more complete picture than was available to the Commission in
the context of considering the Waste Management agreement as to why the Companies’
initiatives are compliant with past Commission orders. Even if the Commission is unable to
provide this confirmation, the Companies respectfully request that the Commission
SECTION 10: INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM AREA Page 219