Title: Order UE16-01 - Electric - MECL General Rate Application (January 29, 2016)

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Dockets UE21603 and #UE20942
Order UE16-01

IN THE MATTER of an application by Maritime Electric Company, Limited to approve the rates, tolls and charges for electric service for the period beginning March 1, 2016 and for certain approvals incidental thereto;

AND IN THE MATTER of thr Electric Power Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. E-4 and the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. 1-11;

BEFORE THE COMMISSION

on Friday, the 29th day of January, 2016.

J. Scott MacKenzie, Q.C., Chair
Douglas Clow, CPA, CA, Vice-Chair
John Broderick, Commissioner
Mike Campbell, Commissioner

Order

WHEREAS on or about August 7, 2015, Maritime Electric Company, Limited ("Maritime Electric" or "MECL") filed an application with the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission ("Commission" or "IRAC") seeking to amend rates of depreciation with respect to Maritime Electric's several classes of property for the period beginning January 1, 2016 (Commission Docket UE#21603) ("Depreciation Rate Application");

AND WHEREAS on or about October 28, 2015, Maritime Electric filed an application with the Commission seeking to approve proposed amendments to the rates, tolls and charges for electric service for the period beginning March 1, 2016 (Commission Docket UE#20942) ("General Rate Application");

AND WHEREAS on or about January 29, 2016, Maritime Electric filed with the Commission an agreement between Maritime Electric and the Government of Prince Edward Island ("Agreement"), which Agreement addresses the matters raised in the General Rate Application and the Depreciation Rate Application, as well as other matters relating to electric service in the Province of Prince Edward Island;

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to the Electric Power Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. E-4 and pursuant to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. 1-11;

IT IS ORDERED THAT

The General Rate Application in Commission Docket UE#20942 and the Depreciation Rate Application in Commission Docket UE#21603 are hereby consolidated and shall be heard together as a single matter in Commission Docket UE#20942 ("Application");

The Application and other matters outlined in the Notice of Hearing shall be heard at a public hearing before a panel of the Commission;

The hearing shall be held in the Commission's main hearing room, located on the 5th Floor of the National Bank Tower, 134 Kent Street, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, commencing at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 25, 2016;

The hearing shall include a time for public comment, which time shall commence at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 25, 2016, or as close thereto as reasonably possible;

The following timetable will apply to the Application:

Amended Application to be filed by MECL:
February 5, 2016 at 4:00pm

Deadline to Submit an Application to Intervene:
February 16, 2016 at 4:00pm

Deadline to Register to Speak at the Evening Session:
February 16, 2016 at 4:00pm

Determinations Made with Respect to Intervener Status:

February 17, 2016 at 4:00pm

Deadline for the Public to Submit Written Comments:

February 18, 2016 at 4:00pm

Filing of Evidence by Interveners:
February 18, 2016 at 4:00pm

Pre-Hearing Conference of all Parties and Interveners:
February 23, 2016 at 1:30pm

The Notice of Hearing shall be published in the local newspapers, in a form approved by the Commission, at least ten (10) days before the hearing.

DATED at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, this 29th day of January, 2016.

BY THE COMMISSION:

J. Scott MacKenzie, Q,C., Chair

Douglas Clow, CPA,CA, Vice-Chair

John Broderick, Commissioner

Michael Campbell, Commissioner

Notice:

Section 12 of the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission Act reads as follows:

12. The Commission may, in its absolute discretion, review, rescind or vary any order or decision made by it, or rehear any application before deciding it.

Parties to this proceeding seeking a review of the Commission's decision or order in this matter may do so by filing with the Commission, at the earliest date, a written Request for Review, which clearly states the reasons for the review and the nature of the relief sought.

Sections 13.(1), 13(2), 13(3), and 13(4) of the Act provide as follows:

13.(1) An appeal lies from a decision or order of the Commission to the Court of Appeal upon a question of law or jurisdiction.

(2) The appeal shall be made by filing a notice of appeal in the Court of Appeal within twenty days after the decision or order appealed from and the rules of court respecting appeals apply with the necessary changes.

(3) The Commission shall be deemed to be a party to the appeal.

(4) No costs shall be payable by any party to an appeal under this section unless the Court of Appeal, in its discretion, for special reasons, so orders.

NOTE:

In accordance with IRAC's Records Retention and Disposition Schedule, the material contained in the official file regarding this matter will be retained by the Commission for a period of 5 years.