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Bulletin 2007-14

May 8, 2007

Integrated Applications Program-Electronic Proceedings

1 Introduction

On June 23, 2007, the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) will be implementing three new services to facilitate the electronic exchange of information between parties involved or interested in Board proceedings. A proceeding is the regulatory decision process related to the review of nonroutine applications or initiated by the Board. A proceeding may be a written process or may include an oral hearing. Currently, the Integrated Applications Program (IAP) supports submission of applications by the applicant only. These new services expand the functionality to support submission by interveners and improve accessibility to proceeding information and documents. Initially, these services will be used for proceedings related to the review of utility applications but, in the future, the EUB intends to expand the use to include other types of applications. Proceedings in progress will continue with the current process. Utility proceedings commencing after June 23, 2007, will use the new services.

The three new services include Proceeding Submission, Proceeding Search, and the Electronic Proceeding Submission (EPS) Internal Module.

1.1 Proceeding Submission
The Proceeding Submission service will be accessible through the EUB Digital Data Submission (DDS) gateway and will be used by applicants, interveners, representatives, and court reporters. These individuals must be holders of valid Business Associate (BA) Identifiers in order to use the service. This service supports 

• automatic registration of applicants based on information provided through the application;
• on-line registration of interveners seeking to participate in EUB oral and written proceedings;
• the interrogatory process, including the submission of information requests and responses (IRs) by registered parties using Web-based forms within timelines set by the regulatory schedule;
• submission of cost budgets, evidence, rebuttal evidence, sur-rebuttal evidence, argument, reply argument, transcripts and other hearing-related documentation according to the schedule where applicable;
• identification and submission of exhibits by registered parties; and
• system notification to parties involved in the process.

1.2 Proceeding Search
The Proceeding Search service will be accessible through the EUB Web site and may be used by applicants, interveners, representatives, and the public to

• view proceeding details, including the regulatory schedule, registered participant lists, application attachments, and proceeding submissions; and
• download selected application attachments and proceeding submissions with or without an index to organize, sort, and filter the downloaded files.

1.3 EPS Internal Module
The EPS Internal Module will be used by EUB staff to manage proceedings. It encompasses

• creation of a proceeding for those Utilities Branch applications requiring a Board decision;
• setting a regulatory schedule;
• management of registered party information;
• management of IRs and submission of requests by the Board to an interrogatory process;
• making proceeding submissions on behalf of the Board;
• multiple file download capability for application attachments and proceeding submissions; and
• system notifications to appropriate parties.

2 Training

The Utilities Branch will conduct proceedings using these services after June 23. Training is highly recommended for Utilities applicants, interveners, representatives, and those stakeholders interested in utility proceedings. The following training sessions are being offered for all of our external stakeholders:

Please register for the applicable session by providing your preferred date and time, name, company, and e-mail address to EUB.UTL@gov.ab.ca by May 24, 2007.

3 System Access

The first phase of EPS has been designed for use with parties that have or can obtain a BA Identifier and have access to the DDS system. Future releases of EPS will include participation for a party that does not have a BA Identifier. In anticipation of the rollout on June 23, please ensure that you are prepared to participate in an EUB proceeding by taking the following steps.

3.1 Step 1-Obtain a Business Associate (BA) Identifier
All interveners or their representatives intending to participate in a Board proceeding must first obtain a BA Identifier by applying for access through the Petroleum Registry of Alberta Web site (see below).

The Petroleum Registry Service Desk may be reached via telephone, e-mail, Web, or fax, as follows:
Phone: (403) 297-6111 (Calgary)
Phone: 1-800-992-1144 (other locations)
Fax: (403) 297-3665
e-mail: petroleumregistry.energy@gov.ab.ca
Web site: http://www.petroleumregistry.gov.ab.ca/
 
3.2 Step 2-Obtain an EUB DDS Log-In Code
Mail, fax, or e-mail a signed letter to the EUB. The letter must

• be on company letterhead, 
• include the BA Identifier,
• include the contact name (the company administrator), 
• include the company administrator's phone number and fax number (optional),
• include the company administrator's e-mail address, and 
• be signed by someone with signing authority for the company.

Send the letter to
Alberta Energy and Utilities Board
Attention: Production and Well Data Services
640 - 5 Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 3G4
Fax: (403) 297-4039
E-mail: EUB.DDSAdministrator@gov.ab.ca

A confirmation e-mail with a user ID and a second e-mail with a password will be sent to the company administrator's e-mail address.
Any questions regarding the DDS system may be directed by e-mail to EUB.DDSAdministrator@gov.ab.ca or by telephone to (403) 297-5802.

3.3 Step 3-Add "Participate in a Proceeding" Role to Your DDS User Profile
All applicants, interveners, and their representatives must get their company's DDS administrator to add the DDS "Participate in a Proceeding" role to the user profile of all individuals with designated authorization to register information requests, respond to information requests, or submit other proceeding documentation on behalf of a company.

4 Business Contacts

The EUB is looking forward to expanding the use of our technology to include utility proceedings.  Questions regarding these new services may be directed to

• Janet Abel, Utilities Branch, (403) 297-3741, janet.abel@eub.ca
• Bob Schroeder, Utilities Branch, (403) 297-8384, bob.schroeder@eub.ca

[Original signed by]

R. D. Heggie
Executive Manager
Utilities Branch