Orders

 

 

ORDER NUMBER

G-79-18

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District

Application for an Exemption from Part 3 of the Utilities Commission Act

 

BEFORE:

D. M. Morton, Commissioner/Panel Chair

B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

 

on April 25, 2018

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On June 14, 2017, Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District (GVS&DD) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for an exemption pursuant to section 88(3) of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) with respect of GVS&DD’s planned project to recover the thermal properties of sewage and provide the heat energy to the Lonsdale Energy Corporation (LEC) municipal district energy system (Application);

B.      In accordance with section 1 of the UCA, GVS&DD will fall within the definition of “public utility” should they engage in the supply and sale of heat energy to the LEC;

C.      Section 88(3) of the UCA states: “The commission may, on conditions it considers advisable, with the advance approval of the minister responsible for the administration of the Hydro and Power Authority Act, exempt a person, equipment or facilities from the application of all or any of the provisions of this Act or may limit or vary the application of this Act;”

D.      By Order G-36-18 dated February 14, 2018, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for the review of the Application and invited members of the public to comment on the Application;

E.       Between February 24, 2018 and March 16, 2018, the BCUC received Letters of Comment from Mr. Knee, Mr. Kost, Fortis Alternative Energy Sources (FAES) and Fortis Energy Inc. (FEI);

F.       Mr. Knee raised a number of considerations for the BCUC. Mr. Kost and FEI requested further information, noting that there is an insufficient evidentiary basis on which to determine whether the exemption sought is warranted. FAES does not support an exemption in this case; and

G.      FEI, in its Letter of Comment, submitted that the BCUC should direct a short written proceeding to address GVS&DD’s Application; and

H.      The BCUC has considered the Application and comments received by the parties and finds it warranted and in the public interest to initiate a public hearing to consider whether an exemption under section 88(3) of the UCA is appropriate.

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to sections 82 and 88(3) of the UCA, the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       A public hearing process is established to consider an exemption pursuant to sections 88(3) of the Utilities Commission Act exempting the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District (GVS&DD) from Part 3 of the UCA with respect to the construction and operation of heat recovery equipment at the GVS&DD’s North Shore Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) and the supply and sale of recovered heat energy to the Lonsdale Energy Corporation (LEC) as set out in the regulatory timetable attached as Appendix A to this order.

 

2.       GVS&DD is to publish in display-ad format, as soon as reasonably possible but no later than May 4, 2018, the Notice of Application attached as Appendix B to this order, in the North Shore News, as may properly provide adequate notice to the public in the affected service area. The Notice of Application should also be made available on the GVS&DD’s website as well as LEC’s website.

 

3.       Parties who wish to participate in the regulatory proceeding are to register with the BCUC by completing a Request to Intervene form, available on the BCUC website by the date established in the Regulatory Timetable attached as Appendix A to this order and in accordance with the BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure.

 

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this      25^th         day of April 2018.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

D. M. Morton

Commissioner

 

 

Attachments

 

Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District

Application for an Exemption from Part 3 of the Utilities Commission Act

 

REGULATORY TIMETABLE

 

 

On June 14, 2017, Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District (GVS&DD) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for an exemption pursuant to section 88(3) of the Utilities Commission Act with respect of GVS&DD’s planned project to recover the thermal properties of sewage and provide the heat energy to the Lonsdale Energy Corporation (LEC) municipal district energy system (Application).

 

The requested exemption would exempt the entity from complying with Part 3 of the Utilities Commission Act with respect to the supply and sale of heat energy to LEC.

 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE There are a number of ways to participate in a matter before BCUC: •         Submit a letter of comment •         Register as an interested party •         Request intervener status For more information, or to find the forms for any of the options above, please visit our website or contact us at the information below.   http://www.bcuc.com/forms/request-to-intervene.aspx   All submissions received, including letters of comment, are placed on the public record, posted on the BCUC website and provided to the Panel and all participants in the proceeding. NEXT STEP Intervener registration Persons who are directly or sufficiently affected by BCUC’ s decision or have relevant information or expertise and that wish to actively participate in the proceeding can request intervener status by submitting a completed Request to Intervene Form by Friday, May 18, 2018.

GET MORE INFORMATION
All documents filed on the public record are available on the “Current Proceedings” page of the BCUC website at www.bcuc.com.   If you would like to review the material in hard copy, or if you have any other inquiries, please contact Patrick Wruck, Commission Secretary, at the following contact information.	British Columbia Utilities Commission   Suite 410, 900 Howe Street Vancouver, BC Canada V6Z 2N3   E: Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com   P: 604.660.4700