ORDER NUMBER
G-298-25
IN THE MATTER OF
the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473
and
Creative Energy Vancouver Platforms Inc.
2026 Core TES Fuel Cost Adjustment Charge
BEFORE:
E. A. Brown, Commissioner
B. A. Magnan, Commissioner
R. E. Murphy, Commissioner
W. E. Royle, Commissioner
on December 12, 2025
ORDER
WHEREAS:
A. On November 19, 2025, Creative Energy Vancouver Platforms Inc. (Creative Energy) submitted an application (Application) to the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) requesting approval of the Fuel Cost Adjustment Charge (FCAC), FCAC Rate Rider, Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) FCAC, and RNG FCAC Rate Rider for the thermal energy system comprising the Core steam distribution network serving downtown Vancouver and the hot water distribution networks serving Northeast False Creek (NEFC) and the Butterfly Development (together, Core TES), effective January 1, 2026, as follows:
i) to maintain the FCAC at $18.55 per thousand pounds steam (M#) and set the FCAC Rate Rider at ($5.34) per M#, for customers connected to the Core steam distribution network;
ii) to maintain the FCAC at $53.46 per megawatt hour (MWh) and set the FCAC Rate Rider at ($15.38) per MWh, for customers connected to the NEFC and the Butterfly Development hot water distribution networks;
iii) to set the RNG FCAC at $26.33 per M# and the RNG FCAC Rate Rider at $0 per M#, for customers connected to the Core steam distribution network;
iv) to set the RNG FCAC at $75.89 per MWh and the RNG FCAC Rate Rider at $0 per MWh, for customers connected to the NEFC and the Butterfly Development hot water distribution networks; and
v) to refund or recover the expected 2025 Fuel Cost Stabilization Account (FCSA) balance by end of 2025 to customers on their first invoice in 2026.
B. By Order G-210-25 dated August 27, 2025, the BCUC approved the current FCAC rate of $18.55 per M# and the FCAC Rate Rider of ($14.93) per M# for customers connected to the Core steam distribution network, and $53.46 per MWh and the FCAC Rate Rider of ($43.02) per MWh for customers connected to the NEFC and the Butterfly Development hot water distribution networks on a permanent basis effective August 1, 2025;
C. By Order G-253-25 dated October 23, 2025, the BCUC approved the establishment of an RNG Fuel Cost Adjustment Charge and RNG FCSA for Creative Energy’s Core TES customers effective January 1, 2026, to comply the City of Vancouver’s greenhouse gas intensity limits;
D. Creative Energy states the total monthly bill impact for customers would increase by 34.8 percent in 2026, following a 44.5 percent decrease in 2025, which taken together sums to an average decrease of 4.85 percent over 2025 and 2026; and
E. The BCUC has reviewed the Application and considers the following determinations are warranted.
NOW THEREFORE pursuant to sections 59 to 61 of the Utilities Commission Act the BCUC orders as follows:
1. The following are approved effective January 1, 2026:
a. The FCAC of $18.55 per M# and the FCAC Rate Rider of ($5.34) per M#, for customers connected to the Core steam distribution network.
b. The FCAC of $53.46 per MWh and the FCAC Rate Rider of ($15.38) per MWh, for customers connected to the NEFC and the Butterfly Development hot water distribution networks.
c. The RNG FCAC of $26.33 per M# and the RNG FCAC Rate Rider of $0 per M#, for customers connected to the Core steam distribution network.
d. The RNG FCAC of $75.89 per MWh and the RNG FCAC Rate Rider of $0 per MWh, for customers connected to the NEFC and the Butterfly Development hot water distribution networks.
2. Creative Energy is directed to refund or recover, the expected 2025 FCSA balance with interest at the weighted average cost of debt of 5.31 percent, by end of 2025 to customers on their first invoice in 2026.
3. Creative Energy is directed to file revised tariff pages reflecting the permanent approvals in Directive 1 for BCUC endorsement within 30 days of the date of this order.
DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this 12th day of December 2025.
BY ORDER
Electronically signed by Bernard Magnan
B. A. Magnan
Commissioner