Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-328-21

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

Oakridge Energy LP/GP Inc.

Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for a District Energy System

BEFORE:

R. I. Mason, Panel Chair

E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner

T. A. Loski, Commissioner

on November 10, 2021

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On June 1, 2021, Oakridge Energy LP/GP Inc. (Oakridge Energy) submitted an application to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) pursuant to sections 45 and 46 of the Utilities Commission Act seeking a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to construct and operate a District Energy System (DES) for the provision of thermal energy service to the Oakridge Centre Redevelopment project in Vancouver, B.C. (Application);

B.      Oakridge Energy is a Limited Partnership of entities within the Corix Group of Companies and the Creative Energy group, established to meet the thermal energy needs of the Oakridge Centre Redevelopment project;

C.      The proposed DES has been designed as a low-carbon energy system that provides thermal energy through a combination of multiple heating and cooling energy sources, including a closed loop geoexchange field, a waste heat recovery system, electric boilers, electric chillers, and natural gas boilers;

D.      By Order G-194-21 dated June 24, 2021, the BCUC established a regulatory timetable for the review of the Application, which included Oakridge Energy filing of further information, public notification, intervener registration, one round of BCUC and intervener information requests (IRs) and further process to be determined;

E.       By Order G-206-21 dated July 7, 2021, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable in response to a request from Oakridge Energy to allow additional time for the filing of further information;

F.       On August 5, 2021, the BC Sustainable Energy Association registered as an intervener in the proceeding;

G.      By Order G-272-21 dated September 16, 2021, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable in response to a request from Oakridge Energy to allow additional time for the filing of BCUC and intervener IRs No. 1 responses;

H.      On September 30, 2021, Oakridge Energy filed its responses to BCUC and intervener IRs No. 1;

I.         By Order G-300-21 dated October 20, 2021, the BCUC established a further regulatory timetable for review of the Application, which included BCUC and intervener IRs No. 2, Oakridge Energy responses to BCUC and intervener IRs No. 2, and final and reply arguments;

J.        By letter dated October 21, 2021, Oakridge Energy filed a submission with the BCUC, which included an amendment to approvals sought in the Application based on recent developments regarding the geoexchange field, which is an element of Oakridge Energy’s DES;

K.       By Order G-308-21 dated October 29, 2021, the BCUC amended the regulatory timetable for review of the Application, which included a requirement that Oakridge Energy file a revised application and/or addenda, BCUC and intervener IRs No. 2, Oakridge Energy responses to BCUC and intervener IRs No. 2 and further process to be determined. The BCUC requested that the revised application and/or addenda include its Construction and Purchase Agreement with the developer relating to the geoexchange field and any necessary updates to the Application as a result of the changes described in Oakridge Energy’s October 21, 2021 letter;

L.       By Letter dated November 4, 2021, Oakridge Energy filed a submission with the BCUC, which states that Oakridge Energy does not have a Construction and Purchase Agreement with the developer and that no further updates to the Application are required; and

M.    The Panel determines that an amendment to the regulatory timetable is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC amends the regulatory timetable established by Order G-308-21. The amended regulatory timetable for the review of the Application is attached as Appendix A to this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this     10^th      day of November 2021.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

R. I. Mason

Commissioner

Attachment

Oakridge Energy LP/GP Inc.

Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for a District Energy System