ORDER NUMBER
G-176-22
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
Creative Energy Vancouver Platforms Inc.
Application for Rates for the Core Steam System and Northeast False Creek Service Areas
BEFORE:
T. A. Loski, Panel Chair
A. C. Dennier, Commissioner
A. Pape-Salmon, Commissioner
on June 28, 2022
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On November 1, 2021, Creative Energy Vancouver Platforms Inc. (Creative Energy) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) part one of its application for approval of rates for the Core Steam system (Core Steam System) and Northeast False Creek (NEFC) service areas, which addresses rate design (Application Part One). Specifically, Creative Energy proposes to consolidate the cost of service and rates of the NEFC service area with the Core Steam System, effective January 1, 2022 (Proposed Rate Design);
B. On December 1, 2021, Creative Energy filed the following, among other things:
1. The 2022 revenue requirements for the Core Steam System and NEFC service areas based on the Proposed Rate Design (Application Part Two), which requests approval of interim and permanent rates, effective January 1, 2022 (Application Part One and Part Two are collectively referred to as the Application); and
2. The 2022 revenue requirements and resulting rates, effective January 1, 2022, for each of the Core Steam System and NEFC service areas under the respective existing rate designs (Existing Rate Design);
C. By Order G-11-22 dated January 14, 2022, the BCUC approved Creative Energy to charge rates for each of the Core Steam System and NEFC service areas based on the Existing Rate Design on an interim and refundable basis, effective January 1, 2022. The order also established a regulatory timetable for the review of the Application, which included two rounds of information requests (IR) to Creative Energy and further process to be determined;
D. By Order G-104-22 the Panel established an amended regulatory timetable and directed Creative Energy to engage and consult with Core Steam System customers regarding the purpose and content of the Application, among other things;
E. By letter dated April 21, 2022, Creative Energy filed an evidentiary update and errata to the Application, with supporting schedules and rates, to amend its request for permanent approval of thermal energy rates effective January 1, 2022. As part of the filing, Creative Energy included two corrections to its responses to BCUC IR No. 1;
F. By Order G-115-22 the BCUC established an amended regulatory timetable, which included a second round of IRs with further process to be determined, and varied Directive 2 and 3 of Order G-104-22 regarding engagement and consultation with customers; and
G. The BCUC has reviewed Creative Energy’s IR No. 2 responses and the status update on the engagement and consultation activities and determines submissions on further process are warranted.
NOW THEREFORE BCUC orders that the regulatory timetable is amended as set out in Appendix A to this order.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 28th day of June 2022.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
T. A. Loski
Commissioner
Attachments
Creative Energy Vancouver Platforms Inc.
Application for Rates for the Core Steam System and Northeast False Creek Service Areas
REGULATORY TIMETABLE
| Action |
Date (2022) |
| Creative Energy Submission on Further Process* |
Thursday, July 7 |
| Intervener Submissions on Further Process* |
Thursday, July 14 |
| Creative Energy Reply to Intervener Submissions on Further Process |
Thursday, July 21 |
| Further Process |
To be determined |
* In making submissions on further process, the Panel requests that the parties address the items outlined in
Appendix B to this order.
Creative Energy Vancouver Platforms Inc.
Application for Rates for the Core Steam System and Northeast False Creek Service Areas
REQUEST FOR SUBMISSIONS ON FURTHER PROCESS
By Orders G-339-21, G-11-22, G-104-22 and G-115-22 the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) established regulatory timetables for the review of the above-noted application by Creative Energy Vancouver Platforms Inc. (Creative Energy). The regulatory timetables included, among other things, intervener registration, two rounds of BCUC and intervener information requests (IR), Creative Energy’s responses to IR No. 1 and 2, with further process to be determined. On June 15, 2022, Creative Energy filed responses to BCUC and intervener IR No. 2.
Creative Energy and interveners are invited to file written submissions on further process. In making these submissions, the Panel requests that the parties address the following:
1. Recommended next steps in the regulatory process, specifically whether further process is required or whether the process can proceed to final argument.
2. If further process is recommended:
a. Identify any specific topics where further evidence is required, with rationale;
b. Identify the recommended regulatory process (e.g. written IRs, oral component, some combination thereof, etc.), with rationale.
3. Any other procedural matters that the Panel should consider.
Submissions on further process must be filed electronically via the BCUC’s eFile system by the dates included in the regulatory timetable, as set out in Appendix A to this order. Following review of all submissions, the Panel will determine the further process and issue an amended regulatory timetable.