Below is a list of rulings made by the Commission in date order (i.e. orders, official authorizations, decisions, determinations and declarations).
| Order or Memo Name and Section of Coastal Ferry Act (where applicable) | Date | Content |
| Order12-02A under s.40 re: service levels adjustments | 15 April 2013 |
Amends Order 12-02 to reflect Coastal Ferry Services Contract changes. |
| Order 12-03A under s. 41.1(1) re: reporting timeline change request | 28 February 2013 | Changes the reporting requirement for the submission of plans and information provided by BC Ferries. |
| Order 12-04 under s. 55 re: major capital expenditure critera | 1 October 2012 |
Sets the threshold for major capital expenditure approval by the commission at $30 million for vessels and terminals, and at $5 million for specified upgrades to information technology systems |
| Order 12-03 under s. 41.1 re: fuel deferral accounts | 1 October 2012 |
Sets out the terms and conditions of the use of fuel deferral accounts by BC Ferries. Click here for reasons for commissioner’s deliberations. |
| Order 12-02 under s. 40 re: final price cap decision for Performance Term Three | 1 October 2012 |
Allows for increases to the price cap indexes for all routes groups as follows: 4.1% effective April 1, 2013; 4.0% effective April 1, 2014; and 3.9 per cent effective April 1, 2015. Click here for reasons for commissioner’s deliberations. |
| Order 12-01 under s. 43 re: variation of service on route 30 due to damaged berth at Duke Point Terminal | 4 January 2012 |
In view of the extraordinary situation and the temporary period of closure of the Duke Point Terminal, the commission authorizes the reduction of service for up to six months with conditions. |
| Order 11-03 under s. 38.2 re: revised methodology for calculating average ferry fares for comparing price caps | 22 October 2011 |
Eliminates the possibility of a price index drift that could result in an erroneous finding that the company was not in compliance with the Commission’s price cap. |
| Order 11-01B under s. 45.1 re: a request by BC Ferry Services Inc. for reconsideration and variance of the quarterly application of the minimum allowed average tariff (MAAT) | 31 October 2011 |
Declines the company’s request as conditions do not presently exist to warrant a consideration. As an appeal is pending, it is also premature for a reconsideration to take place on only one aspect of the MAAT. |
| Order 11-02 under s. 40 re: preliminary price caps for performance term three | 31 March 2011 |
Preliminary decision is: for the major routes and Route 3, a 4.15% price cap increase on April 1 each year from 2012 to 2016; for the northern and minor route groups, a 8.23% increase on the same dates. |
| Order 11-01 and Memorandum 42 re: unfair competitive advantage under section 45.1 | 7 February 2011 |
Finds the BC Ferries is pricing its drop trailer services on its major routes at less than direct cost plus an appropriate proportion of indirect cost, and that BC Ferries has unfair competitive advantage; sets a minimum tariff for the service. |
| Commission Memorandum 41 re: return on equity for Performance Term Three | 4 January 2011 |
Sets 12.73% per annum as the rate of return on equity for BC Ferries, to be used in setting preliminary price caps for the third performance term. |
| Order 10-01 re: unfair competitive advantage under section 45.1 | 15 November 2010 |
Releases two documents with information re: BC Ferries’ drop trailer services on its major routes, with reasons, following an exchange of correspondence among the Commission, BC Ferries and a competitor for drop trailer business. |
| Commission Memorandum 38 re: complaints handling process under section 45.2 | 9 September 2010 |
Asks BC Ferries to identify the process it intends to use to handle customer complaints and indicates features required to earn Commission approval. |
| Commission Memorandum 37 re: unfair competitive advantage under section 45.1 | 19 July 2010 |
Finds BC Ferries’ drop trailer service on its major routes to be a competitive service under the Act, asks BC Ferries to provide information. |
| Order 08-01 under section 43 authorizing temporary northern service reduction | 24 October 2008 |
Authorizes temporary service reduction on northern routes 10 and 11 through February 2009 needed to modify terminals in order to dock a new vessel, the Northern Expedition. |
| Commission Memorandum 24A modifying Memorandum 24 under s.40 | 22 July 2008 |
Authorizes fuel surcharges starting August 1 2008: 10.3% on the three major routes; 17.6% on the 18 minor routes; 9.2% on the Horseshoe Bay-Langdale route. |
| Commission Memorandum 27 re: compliance with price caps as set out in Order 05-01 | 17 January 2008 |
Permits BC Ferries’ fares to exceed the price cap for two (instead of one) consecutive quarters for one time only, at March 31 2008, and explains why. |
| Order 07-01A under section 40 amending Order 07-01 re: final decision on price caps for performance term two | 21 December 2007 |
Rectifies an error in Order 07-01 below which incorrectly adjusted for the cost of new vessels on the major routes. Fare cap on major routes rises by 7.3% (not 6.4%) April 1 2008, other route groups by 4.0%. Subsequent annual increases through April 1 2011 relate to consumer price inflation, being 3.7% (not 3.0%) and 7.1% respectively if consumer price index increases at 2% per year. |
| Commisson Memorandum 26 under section 40 re: CPI calculation for price caps | 17 December 2007 |
Details how the figure for the increase in the consumer price index, required in the annual price cap calculation for Order 0701A above, should be obtained. |
| Commission Memorandum 25 under section 41 (2)(b) re: return on equity | 14 December 2007 |
Details the Commission’s final ruling of 13.16% for the allowed return on equity for performance term two for BC Ferries. |
| Order 07-01 under section 40 re: price caps for performance term two | 18 September 2007 |
Note: this Order was amended on 21 December 2007 – see above. Fare cap on major routes rises by 6.4% April 1 2008, other route groups by 4.0%. Subsequent annual increases through April 1 2011 relate to consumer price inflation, being 3.0% and 7.1% respectively if consumer price index increases at 2% per year. |
| Preliminary decision on price caps for Performance Term Two under section 40 | 30 March 2007 |
Subject to final ruling by Sept. 30 2007, fare cap on major routes rises by 5.4% April 1 2008, other route groups by 3.6%. Subsequent annual increases through April 1 2011 relate to consumer price inflation being 3.0% and 6.7% respectively if consumer price index increases at 2% per year. |
| Commission Memorandum 24 re: fuel surcharge / rebate mechanism in Performance Term Two under section 40 | 30 March 2007 |
Automatic adjustment mechanism for fuel surcharges or rebates from 2008 through 2012 under which farepayers and BC Ferries share cost of fuel price fluctuations up and down. |
| Commission Memorandum 20 under section 41(2)(b) re: return on equity for BC Ferries | 17 Sept 2006 |
Makes preliminary ruling that BC Ferries’ pre-tax rate of return on equity to be used in setting fare caps for the second performance term (starting April 1, 2008) will be 14% p.a. |
| Order 06-07 under section 55 re: capital spending on terminals for northern routes | 17 Sept 2006 |
Declares $33.4 million in terminal alterations to meet design of the new northern vessel (see Order 06-06 below) to be reasonably required. |
| Order 06-06 under section 55 re: a newly built vessel for the north | 14 August 2006 |
Declares a newly built northern replacement vessel ready for service in summer 2009 to be reasonably required, at a cost of $199.7 million. |
| Order 06-05 under section 43 regarding service reduction on northern routes | 14 July 2006 |
Extends a temporary and extraordinary service reduction on the north earlier authorized in Order 06-02 for the remainder of the summer, i.e. through September 30 2006, on finding BC Ferries’ search for a replacement vessel (which will not be in service before 2007) was thorough. |
| Order 06-04 under section 55 regarding acquisition of a used replacement vessel for the north | 4 July 2006 |
Declares a particular used northern replacement vessel for service in summer 2007 to be reasonably required (text of Order 06-04 is to be released after purchase is completed). |
| Order 06-03 under section 42 regarding ferry fuel surcharges | 19 June 2006 |
Authorizes extraordinary price cap increase of 3.2% on major route group and 9.6% on others (except Mill Bay-Brentwood Bay and Langdale-Gambier-Keats) following higher fuel price experience and outlook. |
| Order 06-02 under section 43 regarding service reduction on northern routes | 17 May 2006 |
Authorizes a reduction in service from May 18, 2006 on northern routes 10 and 11 for 60 days, which may be extended following a review of BC Ferries’ search for a suitable replacement vessel for the Queen of the North. |
| Order 06-01 under section 43 regarding service reduction on northern routes | 24 April 2006 |
Authorizes BC Ferries to reduce service through May 18 2006 on northern routes 10 and 11 following the sinking of the Queen of the North on 22 March 2006 with resultant loss of ferry capacity. |
| Order 05-06 Final under section 42 regarding ferry fuel surcharges | 20 January 2006 |
Final Decision authorizing extraordinary price cap increases of 1.5% on the major routes and 3% on others, plus later possible increases depending on changes in future fuel prices and outlook. Orders BC Ferries to absorb all over-target fuel cost if fuel conservation targets of 1% and 2% in next two years not met; asks for fuel conservation plan. |
| Order 05-06 Preliminary under section 42 regarding ferry fuel surcharges | 21 December 2005 | Preliminary Decision to the Final 05-06 above. |
| Order 05-05 under section 43 of the Act regarding a temporary reduction in service | 20 November 2005 | Authorizes the extension to December 20 2005 of the temporary reduction in service authorized in Order 05-04 below. |
| Order 05-04 under section 43 of the Act regarding a temporary reduction in service | 10 Sept 2005 |
Authorizes temporary reduction in service on Route 26 between Skidegate and Alliford Bay on the Queen Charlotte Islands to accommodate maintenance refit of the vessel MV Kwuna. |
| Order 05-02 Final under section 42 of the Act regarding fuel surcharges on fares | 24 July 2005 | Authorizes extraordinary price cap increase of 4% on the major route group and 6% on the others. Orders BC Ferries to absorb 5% of the increase in fuel costs over budget, and allows 6% interest on Deferral Account balances. |
| Order 05-03 under section 55 of Act | 20 July 2005 |
Declaration that the acquisition of an intermediate class vessel on a minor route group is reasonably required and that associated capital costs will be included in setting future price caps on ferry fares. |
| Order 05-02 under section 42 regarding ferry fuel surcharges | 24 June 2005 |
Preliminary Decision to the Final Order 05-02 above. |
| Order 05-01 regarding measurement of average ferry fares and comparison to price caps | 9 February 2005 |
Determination of the computational methods which BC Ferries must use every quarter year for calculating: (a) an index of the average of the fares the company is currently charging for each of the seven route groups; (b) the corresponding seven indices of price caps which the average fare indices must not exceed (to avoid enforcement actions by the Commission). |
| Guidelines for BC Ferries for applications under section 55 | December 2004 | Lists the questions BC Ferries should answer if it wants to have the Commission declare a proposed capital expenditure by BC Ferries (e.g. for a ship) to be “reasonably required.” BC Ferries might make an application in order to gain assurance that the Commission will recognize the capital costs when it sets future price caps on ferry fares. |
| Order 04-02 regarding fuel prices and costs | 28 September 2004 | Authorization for BC Ferries to establish a Deferral Account for each route group to hold variations in fuel costs due to fluctuations in fuel prices about a “set price” for each group. The purpose is to stabilize BC Ferries earnings reports and help avoid temporary fuel surcharges. |
| Memorandum regarding Gabriola Medivac | 18 September 2004 | Determination that a petition by Gabriola Islanders for a ferry fare surcharge to fund after-hours medical evacuation by ferry is satisfactory assent for the surcharge; declaration that the Commission will exclude the surcharge, if made by BC Ferries on the Gabriola-Nanaimo route, from the regulated fare. |
| Order 04-01 under Section 55 of the Act | 10 June 2004 |
Declaration that the acquisition of three vessels for deployment on the major route group is reasonably required and that associated capital costs will be included in setting price caps on ferry fares for the performance term starting April 1, 2008. |
| Order 03-01 under Section 43 of the Act | 31 October 2003 |
Authorization for temporary reduction in service on Route 30 (between Tsawwassen and Duke Point, Nanaimo) in late November and early December 2003 and in March 2004, needed for mid-life upgrade of “C” class vessels |
