Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-67-16

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

Creative Energy Vancouver Platforms Inc.

Application for Approval of 2016-2017 Revenue Requirements

and Rate Design for Northeast False Creek Hot Water Service

BEFORE:

D. A. Cote, Commissioner/Panel Chair

N. E. MacMurchy, Commissioner

W. M. Everett, Commissioner

on May 12, 2016

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On April 1, 2016, pursuant to sections 59 to 61, and 89 and 90 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA), Creative Energy Vancouver Platforms Inc. (CE) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) a 2016-2017 Revenue Requirements Application (RRA) for steam service and a rate design and RRA for Northeast False Creek (NEFC) hot water service (Application);

B.      On March 21, 2016, CE filed with the Commission an application to vary Section 4.2 of the decision accompanying Order G-98-15 (Extension Application); Order G-98-15, issued on June 9, 2016, was the Commission’s final decision on CE’s 2015-2017 Revenue Requirements Application (2015 RRA Decision). Section 4.2 of the 2015 RRA Decision directed CE to file, within one year from the date of the 2015 RRA Decision, a Phase I rate design application in regard to the recovery of fuel costs;

C.      In the Extension Application CE specifically requests an extension from June 9, 2016 to November 1, 2016 to file the Phase I rate design application, and explains that the extension is necessary for the following reasons:

a)      It now expects to propose rate design changes beyond those contemplated by the directive. CE states that it has not completed the analysis necessary to identify and describe those changes but states that changes to the steam tariff variable rate design are being considered;

b)      The NEFC Amended Neighbourhood Energy Agreement proceeding and the 2016-2017 Revenue Requirements Application and NEFC Rate Design proceeding currently before the Commission, may be relevant to the proposed rate design changes CE contemplates as part of the Phase I rate design application; and

c)       Changes to the fuel cost recovery rate may impact the fees collected by the City of Vancouver under the Municipal Access Agreement.

D.      On May 12, 2016, by Order G-66-16 the Commission determined that the Extension Application would be reviewed under this Application;

E.       The Commission has reviewed the Extension Application and finds that submissions on this matter are warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the British Columbia Utilities Commission orders as follows:

1.       The regulatory timetable established by Order G-49-16 is amended and attached as Appendix A to this order.

2.       Creative Energy Vancouver Platforms Inc. is to file with the Commission a more comprehensive explanation as to why it requires an extension from June 9, 2016 to November 1, 2016 to file the Phase I rate design application in regard to the recovery of fuel costs, given its impact on the current revenue requirement application and the full year provided to address this matter. The filing is to be made in accordance with the regulatory timetable attached as Appendix A to this order.

3.       The Commission invites submissions from Interveners and a reply from Creative Energy Vancouver Platforms Inc. on the request for an extension to the Phase I rate design application in regard to the recovery of fuel costs, in accordance with the regulatory timetable attached as Appendix A to this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this                   12^th              day of May, 2016.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

D. A. Cote

Commissioner/Panel Chair

Attachment

Creative Energy Vancouver Platforms Inc.

Application for Approval of 2016-2017 Revenue Requirements

and Rate Design for Northeast False Creek Hot Water Service

REGULATORY TIMETABLE