Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-279-21

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

Corix Multi-Utility Services Inc.

Burnaby Mountain District Energy Utility

2020-2023 Revenue Requirements and Rates Application

 

BEFORE:

K. A. Keilty, Panel Chair

C. M. Brewer, Commissioner

B. A. Magnan, Commissioner

 

on September 24, 2021

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On July 30, 2020, Corix Multi-Utility Services Inc. (Corix) submitted an application seeking British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) approval of its Burnaby Mountain District Energy Utility (BMDEU) revenue requirements and rates from 2020 through to 2023, effective September 1, 2020 (Application);

B.      By Orders G-220-20, G-331-20, G-348-20, G-21-21, and G-103-21, the BCUC established the regulatory timetable for the review of the Application, which included intervener registration, a virtual workshop, two rounds of BCUC and intervener information requests (IRs), evidentiary update submissions by Corix, and written arguments;

C.      The following parties registered as interveners: Simon Fraser University (SFU), Strata Plan EPS-3822 Centre Block Building, Strata Plan EPS-5447 The Peak and British Columbia Old Age Pensioners’ Organization et al. (BCOAPO);

D.      By Order G-220-20 dated August 19, 2020, the BCUC approved certain rates as proposed by Corix on an interim and refundable basis, effective September 1, 2020, for SFU and UniverCity customers;

E.       By Order G-318-20 dated December 7, 2020, after the review of Corix’s partial response to BCUC IR No.1 filed November 30, 2020, the BCUC approved Corix’s proposal of interim rates for UniverCity and SFU on a refundable basis effective January 1, 2021 as outlined in BCUC IR series 1.0 and 2.0 (Exhibit B-6); and.

F.       The BCUC has considered the Application, the evidentiary update and the submissions filed in this proceeding and makes the following determinations.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to sections 58 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       Corix is approved the following for the UniverCity customer group:

a.       Establish a rate structure to consist of a Variable Energy Charge to flow-through and recover all energy costs, with the balance of the Revenue Requirement excluding energy costs and subject to the amounts added to the Revenue Deficiency Deferral Account (RDDA) under the levelized rate structure to be recovered through the existing Basic Charge.

b.       Establish the Energy Cost Reconciliation Account (ECRA) on a permanent basis, to capture actual energy costs and revenues from the Variable Energy Charge.

c.       Use an annual Variable Energy Charge Rate Setting Mechanism as set out in the Application.

d.       Use a 12-month amortization period for balances in the ECRA, unless otherwise determined by the BCUC.

e.       Permanent approval of the Basic Charges for UniverCity effective January 1, 2021, January 1, 2022, and January 1, 2023 and the 4-month rate rider of $0.2748/m² for the period of September 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020, as follows:

 

f.        Corix is directed to apply any difference between the interim UniverCity Variance Energy Charge of $0.0293/kWh effective January 1, 2021, as approved by Order G-318-20, and the final UniverCity Variable Energy Charge of $0.0301/kWh to the ECRA with applicable interest calculated based on Corix’s weighted average cost of capital, retroactive to the effective date of the interim UniverCity Variable Energy Charge.

2.       Corix is approved the following for the SFU customer group:

a.       For the years 2022 and 2023, Corix is to use the proposed structure and regulatory process as set out in Section 3.2.1 of the Decision that has been issued concurrently with this Order, for the SFU Fuel Cost Deferral Account Rate Rider and must use a 12-month amortization period for any balance in the deferral account.

b.       For the years 2022 and 2023, Corix is to use the proposed structure and regulatory process as set out in Section 3.2.2 of the Decision that has been issued concurrently with this Order, for the Property Tax Variance Account Rate Rider and must use a 12 month amortization period for any balance in the deferral account. t

c.       A Capacity Charge, Consumption Charge, and Availability Charge are effective October 23, 2020, January 1, 2021, January 1, 2022, and January 1, 2023 as follows:

 

3.       Corix is directed to file its BMDEU Annual Report to the BCUC to include the 2021 year-end balance for the Fuel Cost Deferral Account by no later than April 30, 2022. Corix is directed to file a compliance filing with the BCUC by no later than June 1, 2022, to include the following:

a.       Information on the 2021 year-end balance of the deferral account, consistent with the information presented in the annual report;

b.       A request for an approval of the associated rate riders effective July 1, 2022, until June 30, 2023; and

c.       All supporting information.

4.       Corix is directed to file its BMDEU Annual Report to the BCUC by no later than April 30, 2022, which will include the 2021 year-end balance for the Property Tax Variance Account. Corix is directed to file a compliance filing with the BCUC by no later than June 1, 2022, to include the following:

a.       Information on the 2021 year-end balance of the deferral account, consistent with the information presented in the annual report;

b.       A request for an approval of the associated rate riders effective July 1, 2022 until June 30, 2023; and

c.       All relevant supporting information.

5.       Corix is directed to refund the net difference between the SFU interim rates as established by Orders
G-220-20 and G-318-20 and the approved permanent rates, plus applicable interest at the weighted average cost of capital, to SFU within one billing period after the issuance of this Order.

6.       Corix’s tariff document for UniverCity in Appendix B of the Evidentiary Update and the tariff supplement for SFU included in Appendix D of the Application is accepted.

7.       Corix is directed to file updated rate schedules for UniverCity and updated rate schedules for SFU consistent with this final Order and Decision within 30-days of the date on this final Order.

8.       The confidential information submitted by Corix in the proceeding will be kept confidential in accordance with the decision that has been issued concurrently with this Order.

9.       Corix is directed to comply with the terms and directives in the decision that have been issued concurrently with this Order.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this           24^th           day of September 2021.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

K. A. Keilty

Commissioner