ORDER NUMBER
G-252-23
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
FortisBC Alternative Energy Services Inc.
Stream A Registration of the Alaska Thermal Energy System
BEFORE:
T. A. Loski, Panel Chair
E. B. Lockhart, Commissioner
B. A. Magnan, Commissioner
On September 21, 2023
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On August 10, 2023, FortisBC Alternative Energy Services Inc. (FAES) filed with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) an application to register the Alaska Thermal Energy System (TES) (Alaska TES), as a Stream A Thermal Energy System (Application) in accordance with the BCUC Thermal Energy Systems Regulatory Framework Guidelines (TES Guidelines);
B. On August 31, 2023, the BCUC issued BCUC Staff Questions No. 1, and on September 5, 2023, FAES filed its responses;
C. On September 11, 2023, the BCUC issued BCUC Staff Questions No. 2, and on September 11, 2023, FAES filed its responses;
D. FAES requests that certain information contained in the Application be held confidential on a permanent basis, pursuant to Section 18 of the BCUC’s Rules of Practice and Procedure established by Order G-72-23. Specifically, FAES requests that information relating to construction costs, purchase price, operating costs, design data, drawings and specifications be kept confidential. FAES states that:
1. Commercially sensitive information, if publicly disclosed, could reasonably be expected to result in harm or prejudice to FAES’ competitive or negotiation position with other parties on future projects;
2. Individual customer consumption data, if publicly disclosed, could lead to disclosure of customer specific information by deduction due to the limited number of customers; and
3. Security-sensitive asset information, if disclosed, could jeopardize the safety, security, and operation of the TES.
E. On August 27, 2014, the BCUC issued Order G-121-14 granting an exemption to a person, or the person's lessee, trustee, receiver or liquidator, who owns or operates in British Columbia a Stream A TES for the production, generation, storage, transmission, sale, delivery or provision of any agent for the production of heat or cold for compensation, with a capital cost less than a maximum threshold and greater than a minimum threshold, from sections 44.1, 45 and 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act (UCA) for that specific Stream A TES. The exemption only applies if:
1. The person files information that allows the BCUC to determine that Order G-121-14 applies to the person’s specific TES; and
2. The BCUC determines that Order G-121-14 applies to the person’s specific TES.
F. On August 28, 2014, the BCUC issued Order G-127-14 approving the TES Guidelines and, on March 2, 2015, revisions to the TES Guidelines were approved by Order G-27-15; and
G. The BCUC has reviewed the Application and responses to BCUC Staff Questions and is satisfied that the Alaska TES meets the characteristics of a Stream A TES and is suitable for exemption.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to section 88(3) of the UCA and by the advance approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council (Order in Council 400/14), the BCUC orders as follows:
1. In accordance with the TES Guidelines, FAES is exempt from sections 44.1, 45 and 59 to 61 of the UCA for the Alaska TES.
2. FAES must file with the BCUC, an annual report for the Alaska TES in accordance with Stream A annual reporting guidelines as provided in Appendix B of the TES Guidelines.
3. Information related to construction costs, purchase price, operating costs, design data, drawings and specifications filed by FAES shall be treated as confidential until otherwise determined by the BCUC.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 21st day of September, 2023.
BY ORDER
Original signed by:
T. A. Loski
Commissioner