Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board

NOVA SCOTIA UTILITY AND REVIEW BOARD

IN THE MATTER OF THE GAS DISTRIBUTION ACT

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IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION by Heritage Gas Limited for the approval of amendments to its Schedule of Rates, Tolls and Charges

BEFORE:                  Peter W. Gurnham, Q.C., Chair

Kulvinder S. Dhillon, P. Eng., Member

Murray Doehler, C.A., P. Eng., Member

ORDER

WHEREAS in 2011 Heritage Gas Limited (“Heritage”) applied to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (the “Board”) for approval of amendments to its Schedule of Rates, Tolls and Charges;

AND WHEREAS Heritage, as part of its 2011 Rate Application, filed a Cost of Service Study (“COSS”);

AND WHEREAS in Board decision NSUARB-NG-HG-R-11 [2011 NSUARB 183] in the matter of Heritage’s 2011 Rate Application, the Board ordered a separate COSS proceeding be held, and that the mains classification; disposition of the deferral of costs to enable alternative suppliers; and US GAAP transition items (if any) should be included in the COSS proceedings;

                        AND WHEREAS by Order dated the 12^th day of March, 2012, the Board set a timeline for this hearing leading to a hearing commencing June 18, 2012;

AND WHEREAS at the opening of the hearing Heritage, Dalhousie University and the Consumer Advocate, parties to the proceeding, tabled Minutes of Settlement;

                        AND WHEREAS officials of Heritage updated the Board with respect to the issue of the deferral of costs to enable alternative suppliers and US GAAP transition items;

                        AND WHEREAS all parties to the hearing are parties to the Minutes of Settlement;

                        IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

1.            The Minutes of Settlement attached as Appendix “A” is approved.  Heritage is to file, as soon as conveniently possible, a Compliance Filing setting out rates in accordance with the Minutes of Settlement.  Other parties will be given seven (7) days to review the Compliance Filing following which the Board will issue an Order;

2.            Heritage is to file, along with its December 31, 2011 financial statements, a reconciliation between Canadian GAAP and US GAAP presentations;

3.            No action with respect to the deferral of costs to enable alternative suppliers is needed at this time and Heritage is directed to continue to work on that matter.

                        DATED at Halifax, Nova Scotia, this 19^th day of June, 2012.

                                                                        ________________________________

                                                                        Clerk of the Board