ORDER NUMBER
F-5-18
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
Shannon Wall Centre Rental Apartments Limited Partnership
Rate Application for the Shannon Estates Thermal Energy System
Application for Participant Assistance/Cost Award
BEFORE:
R. D. Revel, Panel Chair/Commissioner
D. M. Morton, Commissioner
on January 18, 2018
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On May 24, 2016, Shannon Wall Centre Rental Apartments Limited Partnership (SWCRA) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (Commission) under sections 59-61, 89 and 90 of the Utilities Commission Act seeking approval of the terms and conditions and rates for the Shannon Estates Thermal Energy System (SETES) located at 7199 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC. The SETES provides space heating, space cooling, and domestic hot water service to the Shannon Mews & Apartments development;
B. On June 1, 2016, by Order G-77-16A, the Commission approved interim and refundable rates for the SETES, effective June 1, 2016, and established a regulatory timetable which included intervener registration, one round of Commission and intervener information requests (IR), and written final and reply arguments;
C. On July 20, 2016, by Order G-118-16, due to new evidence being filed in SWCRA’s reply argument, the Commission reopened the evidentiary phase of the proceeding and established a regulatory timetable which included a second round of IRs followed by written final and reply arguments;
D. On October 11, 2016, subsequent to SWCRA filing its reply argument, the Commission received a letter from Mr. Dean Thomas Fox, a Phase II owner, representing himself and other owners, collectively referred to as the Shannon Ratepayers Group (SRG). Based on Mr. Fox’s submission and submissions from other parties, the Commission issued Order G-161-16A on November 14, 2016, reopening the evidentiary record and establishing a regulatory timetable which included intervener registration and submissions on further process;
E. By Orders G-193-16 dated December 19, 2016 and G-52-17 dated April 6, 2017, the Commission established the following regulatory processes: a deadline for SWCRA to file an updated application, a third round of IRs, a deadline for the filing of intervener evidence, IRs on intervener evidence, a deadline for SWCRA to file notice of its intent to submit rebuttal evidence, and alternate deadlines for filing written final and reply arguments depending on whether or not SWCRA were to file rebuttal evidence;
F. Eight requests for intervener status were approved by the Commission. Two of these interveners changed their status to interested parties, and four interveners actively participated in the proceeding;
G. On December 19, 2017, by Order G-190-17 with decision issued concurrently, the Commission made its final determinations on the Application;
H. On January 2, 2018, SRG filed a Participant Assistance/Cost Award (PACA) application with the Commission in the amount of $25,921.53;
I. By letter dated January 16, 2018, SWCRA provided its comments on the PACA application, stating it takes no position on the matter; and
J. The Commission has reviewed the PACA application in accordance with the criteria and rates set out in the PACA Guidelines attached to Order G-72-07, and concludes that the cost award should be approved.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 118(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, the Commission orders as follows:
1. Funding is awarded to the Shannon Ratepayers Group in the amount of $25,921.53 for its participation in the Rate Application for the Shannon Estates Thermal Energy System proceeding.
2. Shannon Wall Centre Rental Apartments Limited Partnership is directed to reimburse the Shannon Ratepayers Group for the awarded amount in a timely manner.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 18th day of January 2018.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
R. D. Revel
Commissioner