Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-127-16

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

SSL-Sustainable Services Ltd.

SSL Geothermal Energy System Status as a Public Utility under the Utilities Commission Act

BEFORE:

D. M. Morton, Commissioner

on August 3, 2016

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On December 16, 2015, the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) received a complaint from a resident of the City of Langford’s Westhills area regarding energy services in the subdivision served by SSL-Sustainable Services Ltd.’s (SSL) geothermal system;

B.      As a geothermal energy service provider, SSL has not been granted a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity nor has it made an application for approval of rates for public utility service under the Stream B criteria of the Commission’s Thermal Energy System (TES) Regulatory Framework Guidelines (TES Guidelines). SSL has also not been granted Stream A status per the TES Guidelines;

C.      The Commission reviewed the information provided by SSL and, on June 9, 2016 via Oder G-87-16, considered there to be sufficient grounds to warrant a hearing to determine whether SSL is a public utility under the Utilities Commission Act (UCA). Pursuant to section 83 of the UCA, the Commission established a written hearing process to determine if SSL is operating as a public utility under the UCA as set out in the regulatory timetable attached as Appendix A to Order G-87-16;

D.      By letter dated July 14, 2016, the City of Langford confirmed its interest in the proceeding. However, the City of Langford stated that it is not yet in the position to make any formal application for party status based on the requirement in section 114 of the UCA. The City of Langford requests the Commission extend the deadline for intervener registration until after the next city council meeting on August 15, 2016, at which council can consider whether or not to pass a resolution on this matter;

E.       On July 20, 2016, SSL submitted an extension request on the regulatory timetable given that City of Langford is intending to seek direction from council with respect to their participation in this process, and the next possible city council meeting to consider this matter will be on August 15, 2016; and

F.       The Commission considers that an extension of the regulatory timetable is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the British Columbia Utilities Commission orders that the regulatory timetable for the proceeding to determine whether SSL-Sustainable Services Ltd. is a public utility be amended as set out in Appendix A to this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this      3^rd          day of August 2016.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

D. M. Morton

Commissioner

Attachment

SSL-Sustainable Services Ltd.

SSL Geothermal Energy System Status as a Public Utility under the Utilities Commission Act

REGULATORY TIMETABLE