Orders

 

ORDER NUMBER

G-65-19

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

Shannon Estates Utility Ltd.

Application to Extend the Filing Deadline for the

Shannon Estates Thermal Energy System Levelized Rate Application

 

BEFORE:

T. A. Loski, Panel Chair

 

on March 20, 2019

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On February 20, 2019, Shannon Estates Utility Ltd. (SEUL) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) requesting to extend the deadline for filing a levelized rate application for the Shannon Estates Thermal Energy System (SETES) to either November 1, 2019 or June 30, 2020 (Application);

B.      In the Application, SEUL states that depending on the extension granted, it would apply for interim and refundable rates effective January 1, 2020 in either the fall of 2019 or in November 2019. SEUL further states that extending the filing deadline along with a future approval of interim and refundable rates effective January 1, 2020 should result in better rates consistent with the objectives of the levelized rate approach and allow for a more efficient regulatory process for the review of the levelized rate application;

C.      By Order C-4-16 dated April 21, 2016, the BCUC granted Shannon Wall Centre Rental Apartments Limited Partnership (SWCRA) a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to own and operate the SETES. The estimated capital cost of the SETES project was $7.5 million and was planned to be developed over two phases;

D.      On December 19, 2017, the BCUC issued its decision and Order G-190-17 which, among other things, established rates and a rate structure for the SETES on a permanent basis, effective from June 1, 2016 to December 31, 2019. Directive 4 of Order G-190-17 directed SWCRA to file an application to set rates under a levelized rate structure by no later than June 30, 2019;

E.       By Order G-60-18 dated August 28, 2019, the BCUC, among other things, granted approval of the disposition of 100 percent of SWCRA’s interest in the SETES to SEUL, its wholly-owned sister subsidiary; and

F.       The BCUC has reviewed the Application and considers that a public hearing process is warranted.

 

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

 

1.       A regulatory timetable for the review of the Application is established, as set out in Appendix A to this order (Regulatory Timetable).

2.       Within five business days of this order, SEUL is directed to post a stakeholder notice by providing a copy of the Application, this order and the regulatory timetable to all affected customers and parties. In addition, SEUL is directed to post a notification of this process in all major entry ways to the residential properties.

3.       SEUL is directed to file, as a compliance filing, confirmation and details of the stakeholder notification process no more than 10 business days after making such notices public.

4.       Members of the public are invited to make submissions on the Application by the date established in the Regulatory Timetable. Submissions must be filed in the Letter of Comment Form available on the BCUC website. Other parties who wish to actively participate in the proceeding are to register with the BCUC by completing a Request to Intervene Form by the date established in the Regulatory Timetable, and in accordance with the BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure attached to Order G-15-19.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this              20th              day of March 2019.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original Signed By:

 

T. A. Loski

Commissioner

 

 

Attachment

 

 

Shannon Estates Utility Ltd.

Application to Extend the Filing Deadline for the

Shannon Estates Thermal Energy System Levelized Rate Application