Orders

 

ORDER NUMBER

G-352-21

 

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

 

and

 

Creative Energy Mount Pleasant Limited Partnership

Application for Rates for the Mount Pleasant District Cooling System

 

BEFORE:

A. K. Fung, QC, Panel Chair

T. A. Loski, Commissioner

E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner

 

on December 2, 2021

 

ORDER

WHEREAS:

 

A.      On February 1, 2021, Creative Energy Mount Pleasant Limited Partnership (CEMP) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) pursuant to sections 58 to 60 and 90 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) for approval of rates for its provision of cooling service to the Main Alley Development (Mount Pleasant District Cooling System [DCS]). As part of the Application, CEMP seeks approval of, among other things, rates on an interim and refundable basis effective February 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023 (Current Rate Setting Period) (Application);

B.      By Order C-5-20 dated December 3, 2020, the BCUC granted a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to CEMP authorizing it to acquire and operate the existing Mount Pleasant DCS, including specific extensions, renovations, expansions and upgrades that will be completed in phases. The BCUC also approved the related Customer Service Agreements;

C.      CEMP states in the Application that:

•         the Current Rate Setting Period includes the forecast completion of phase one of the build-out for the Mount Pleasant DCS (Phase 1) which is expected to occur by the third quarter of 2021 and prior to the forecast completion of phase two which is expected to go into service at the start of 2024;

•         it will file an evidentiary update and a request for approval of permanent rates in September 2021, upon the completion of Phase 1 and once the actual capital costs for Phase 1 are known and the assets are placed into service (Evidentiary Update);

D.      By Order G-46-21 dated February 18, 2021, the BCUC approved, among other things, a levelized capacity charge and variable charge on an interim and refundable/recoverable basis, effective February 1, 2021, and directed CEMP to file a status update with the BCUC on the expected filing date for the Evidentiary Update no later than August 31, 2021;

E.       By letter dated October 14, 2021, CEMP advised the BCUC that completion of Phase 1 has been delayed due to supply chain delays and it expects to have the work completed by April 2022, following which it can file an Evidentiary Update;

F.       By letter dated November 22, 2021, CEMP responded to the Panel’s request for comments on the impact of the supply chain delays on various aspects of the Application, and on the proposed regulatory process. CEMP states that it may now be appropriate for the BCUC to commence review of the Application in advance of the filing of the Evidentiary Update, which will include the final actual Phase 1 costs. CEMP also notes that in the alternative, it does not have any concerns with the review of the Application remaining adjourned until the Evidentiary Update is filed; and

G.      The BCUC has reviewed the Application and comments received from CEMP and determines that the establishment of a regulatory timetable is warranted.

 

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to sections 58 to 61 of the UCA, the BCUC orders as follows:

 

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

2.       The review of the Application will proceed in stages, with the scope of the review of the first stage, including BCUC and Intervener Information Request (IR) No. 1 as set out in the regulatory timetable, to include all components of the Application except the actual capital costs for Phase 1. Further process to review the actual capital costs for Phase 1 will be determined at a later date, with consideration of the filing date for the Evidentiary Update.

3.       CEMP is directed to provide a copy, electronically where possible, of its Application, including appendices and this order with accompanying appendices on or before Wednesday, December 15, 2021 to:

a.       all affected customers, including any existing and/or known prospective tenants or lessees of buildings M1 to M4;

b.       all registered interveners in (i) CEMP’s Application for a CPCN to Acquire, Operate and Expand a Thermal Energy System for Cooling in the Main Alley Development; and (ii) Creative Energy Vancouver Platforms Inc.’s (Creative Energy) 2021 Revenue Requirements Application for the Core Steam System.

4.       CEMP is directed to make the Application including appendices, and this order with accompanying appendices available on CEMP’s and Creative Energy’s websites, as applicable, on or before Wednesday, December 15, 2021.

5.       CEMP is directed to publish the Public Notice in Appendix B to this order, on each of CEMP’s and Creative Energy’s social media platforms, as applicable, on or before Wednesday, December 15, 2021. Weekly reminder posts that include the Public Notice must be published, on each of these platforms until the conclusion of the intervener registration period on Thursday, January 6, 2022.

6.       CEMP is directed to provide confirmation of compliance with Directives 3, 4 and 5 by Monday, January 10, 2022. Such confirmation shall include: (i) confirmation of notice pursuant to Directive 3 of this order and a list of all parties notified; and (ii) confirmation of notice published on each of CEMP’s and Creative Energy’s social media platforms and websites pursuant to Directive 4 and 5 of this order, respectively.

7.       CEMP is directed to file by Monday, January 10, 2022 an updated Rates Model to reflect the change in expected timing of completion of Phase 1 of the Mount Pleasant DCS.

8.       CEMP is directed to file a status update with the BCUC on the expected filing date for the Evidentiary Update no later than Tuesday, March 1, 2022.

 

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this           2^nd              day of December 2021.

 

BY ORDER

 

Original signed by:

 

A. K. Fung, QC

Commissioner

 

 

Attachments

 

 

Creative Energy Mount Pleasant Limited Partnership

Application for Rates for the Mount Pleasant District Cooling System

 

 

 

 

 

* The scope of IR No. 1 will include all components of the Application except the actual capital costs for Phase 1.

 

 

 

Creative Energy Mount Pleasant Limited Partnership Rates Application

On February 1, 2021, Creative Energy Mount Pleasant Limited Partnership (CEMP) filed its application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for approval of rates for its provision of cooling service to the Main Alley Development. The BCUC approved rates on an interim and refundable basis effective February 1, 2021, with further process to be determined pending the anticipated filing of an evidentiary update to reflect the actual capital costs for phase one of the build-out.

 

On October 14, 2021, CEMP advised the BCUC that completion of phase one of the build-out has been delayed until April 2022 due to supply chain delays, after which time CEMP will file an evidentiary update. In the meantime, the BCUC is commencing review of the application in stages with the scope of review in the first stage to include all components of the application except the actual capital costs for phase one of the build-out. The remainder of the review will be determined at a later date, with consideration of the filing date for the evidentiary update.

 

For more information about the Application, please visit the Proceeding Webpage on bcuc.com under
“Our Work – Proceedings”. To learn more about getting involved, please visit our website at www.bcuc.com/get-involved or contact us at the information below.

 

GET MORE INFORMATION
Creative Energy Mount Pleasant Limited Partnership Suite 1 - 720 Beatty Street Vancouver, BC V6B 2M1   E: info@creative.energy   P: 604.688.9584	British Columbia Utilities Commission Suite 410, 900 Howe Street Vancouver, BC Canada  V6Z 2N3   E: Commission.Secretary@bcuc.com   P: 604.660.4700