Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-171-24

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

Creative Energy Thompson Rivers Limited Partnership

Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for Thompson Rivers University Low-Carbon District Energy System Phase 2

BEFORE:

T. Loski, Panel Chair

E. A. Brown, Commissioner

on June 21, 2024

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On May 27, 2024, Creative Energy Thompson Rivers Limited Partnership (CETRLP) submitted an application with British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to construct and operate the second phase (Phase 2) of the Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Low-Carbon District Energy System (LCDES), pursuant to sections 45 and 46 of the Utilities Commission Act  (Application);

B.      On May 3, 2023, pursuant to Decision and Order C-1-23, CETRLP was granted a CPCN to construct and operate the first phase of TRU LCDES (Phase 1);

C.      In the Application, CETRLP seeks approval to construct and operate an extension of the LCDES to provide space heating and domestic hot water to four additional existing buildings located at the TRU campus;

D.      CETRLP also requests an order to replace the reporting requirements as set out in Appendix A of Decision and Order C-1-23 with consolidated and coordinated reporting requirements for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the LCDES;

E.       In Section 8 of the Application, CETRLP provides information in Table 15 regarding the annual recovery of costs on a combined basis for Phase 1 and Phase 2 for 2026 through 2055. CETRLP also provides the indicative cost of service and rates model for Phase 2 data only in Appendix J to the Application; and

F.       The BCUC has commenced review of the Application and finds that the establishment of a regulatory timetable is warranted.

NOW THEREFORE the BCUC orders as follows:

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

2.       CETRLP is directed to file with the BCUC a revised Appendix J working excel indicative cost of service and rates model that includes tabs for Phase 1 only and consolidated Phase 1 and Phase 2, in addition to the Phase 2 only data provided in the Application, by Thursday, June 27, 2024.

3.       CETRLP is directed to provide the following by July 4, 2024:

                     i.            notice of the Application and this order on its website at: https://creative.energy/;

                   ii.            a copy of this order and the Public Notice attached as Appendix B to this order, electronically where possible, or as outlined by CETRLP on page 8 of the Application, to the stakeholders of the TRU LCDES, the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc First Nation, and the Commercial Energy Consumers Association of BC; and

                 iii.            notice of the Application and this order, or post the Public Notice attached as Appendix B to this order, on its existing social media platforms and in the appropriate TRU newsletter(s). Biweekly reminder posts, including the Public Notice, must be published on each platform until the deadline for letters of comment on Friday, August 2, 2024.

4.       CETRLP is directed to provide to the BCUC by Thursday, July 11, 2024, confirmation of compliance with Directive 3 of this order, including a list of social media platforms and newsletters on which the Public Notice was posted, as well as a list of any specific parties notified.

5.       Persons who wish to file a letter of comment in this proceeding may do so by completing a Letter of Comment Form by Friday, August 2, 2024.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this      21st      day of June 2024.

BY ORDER

Original signed by:

T. Loski

Commissioner

Attachment

Creative Energy Thompson Rivers Limited Partnership

Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for Thompson Rivers University Low-Carbon District Energy System Phase 2

CREATIVE ENERGY APPLICATION FOR THE SECOND PHASE OF THE LOW-CARBON DISTRICT ENERGY SYSTEM AT THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY

On May 27, 2024, Creative Energy Thompson Rivers Limited Partnership (CETRLP) applied to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to construct and operate the second phase (Phase 2) of the Thompson Rivers University (TRU) Low-Carbon District Energy System (LCDES). In its Application, CETRLP seeks approval to extend the LCDES to provide heating to four additional existing buildings on the TRU campus in the City of Kamloops.

The BCUC has established a public hearing process to review the Application. Please visit the Proceeding webpage on bcuc.com under “Our Work” to learn more.

Subscribe to this Proceeding at www.bcuc.com/Forms/SubscribeToAProceeding to receive email notifications when public documents are added to the proceeding. Or submit a letter of comment at www.bcuc.com/Forms/LetterOfComment.