The National Energy Board (NEB) has foiled — for now — an attempt by TransCanada Corp. to tack a 2011 surcharge onto tolls for its natural gas Mainline between Alberta, central Canada and eastern export points into the United States.

In a final order on one of TransCanada’s numerous contested rate cases, the NEB ordered interim tolls set as of Jan. 1, 2011 to remain in effect. The decision leaves the Mainline’s benchmark Eastern Zone toll at C$2.24/GJ (US$2.35/MMBtu).

But the NEB also did not rule out eventually allowing TransCanada to collect additional revenue that would have been raised by its rejected April proposal to increase the benchmark by 9% to C$2.45/GJ (US$2.57/MMBtu) (see NGI, May 2).

The board postponed making a final decision until after “a more detailed evidentiary record” is reviewed by a larger proceeding on a business restructuring blueprint that TransCanada filed Sept. 1. Depending on the outcome, a deferral account could be created to implement the increase, the NEB said.

The grand design, intended to reverse erosion of the Mainline’s traffic by reducing tolls with a complete overhaul of its organizational and financial structure, is proposed to go into effect as of 2012. Dates and other arrangements for the big rate case have yet to be set (see NGI, July 25).

TransCanada’s April request maintained that the surcharge would have been generated by a 2007-11 rate settlement with shippers. Opponents, such as Brooklyn Navy Yard Cogeneration Partners LP and the Association of Power Producers of Ontario, called for a complete review before allowing the proposed increase.

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