ORDER NUMBER
G-198-24
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
Sidney Pier Geothermal Utility Corporation
Stream A Registration of the Sidney Pier Thermal Energy System
BEFORE:
B. A. Magnan, Panel Chair
E. A. Brown, Commissioner
E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner
On July 22, 2024
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On February 15, 2024, Sidney Pier Geothermal Utility Corporation (SPGU) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) an application to register the Sidney Pier Thermal Energy System (TES) (Sidney Pier TES), as a Stream A TES (Application), in accordance with the BCUC TES Regulatory Framework Guidelines (TES Guidelines);
B. On April 16, 2024, the BCUC issued BCUC Staff Questions No. 1 to SPGU, and on May 10, 2024, SPGU filed its responses;
C. On May 16, 2024, the BCUC issued Staff Questions No. 2 to SPGU, and on May 31, 2024, SPGU filed its responses;
D. On August 27, 2014, the BCUC issued Order G-121-14 granting an exemption to a person, or the person’s lessee, trustee, receiver or liquidator, who owns or operates in British Columbia a Stream A TES for the production, generation, storage, transmission, sale, delivery or provision of any agent for the production of heat or cold for compensation, with a capital cost less than a maximum threshold and greater than a minimum threshold, from sections 44.1, 45 and 59-61 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) for that specific TES. The exemption only applies if:
1. The person files information that allows the BCUC to determine that Order G-121-14 applies to the person’s specific TES; and
2. The BCUC determines that Order G-121-14 applies to the person’s specific TES.
E. On August 28, 2014, the BCUC issued Order G-127-14, approving the TES Guidelines and on March 2, 2015, revisions to the TES Guidelines were approved by Order G-27-15; and
F. The BCUC has reviewed the Application and the responses to BCUC Staff Questions and is satisfied that the Sidney Pier TES meets the characteristics of a Stream A TES and is suitable for exemption.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 88(3) of the UCA and by advance approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council (Order in Council 400/14), the BCUC orders as follows:
1. In accordance with the TES Guidelines, SPGU is exempt from sections 44.1, 45 and 59 to 61 of the UCA for the Sidney Pier TES; and
2. SPGU must file with the BCUC, an annual report for the Sidney Pier TES in accordance with Stream A annual reporting guidelines, as provided in Appendix B of the TES Guidelines.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 22nd day of July 2024.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
B. A. Magnan
Commissioner