Orders

ORDER NUMBER

G-303-25

IN THE MATTER OF

the Utilities Commission Act, RSBC 1996, Chapter 473

and

River District Energy Limited Partnership

2026 to 2028 Revenue Requirements and Rates

BEFORE:

B. A. Magnan, Panel Chair

W. E. Royle, Commissioner

on December 15, 2025

ORDER

WHEREAS:

A.      On September 2, 2025, River District Energy Limited Partnership (RDELP) filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) pursuant to sections 59 to 61 and 89 of the Utilities Commission Act, seeking approval of its revenue requirement and to increase both the capacity charge and the thermal energy charge by 10 percent each year for the calendar years 2026, 2027 and 2028 (Test Period), effective January 1 of each year, among other matters (Application);

B.      By Orders G-229-25 and G-267-25, dated September 19, 2025 and November 13, 2025, respectively, the BCUC established and amended the regulatory timetable for the review of the Application which included, among other things, intervener registration, two rounds of information requests (IRs), and final and reply arguments;

C.      By letter dated November 21, 2025, RDELP filed a request seeking approval of the capacity and thermal energy charges as set out in the Application on an interim and refundable or recoverable basis, effective January 1, 2026, given the regulatory timetable and that RDELP’s current rates expire on December 31, 2025 (Interim Rates Application). RDELP submits that the treatment of any difference between interim rates and permanent rates can be addressed through a compliance filing after the BCUC renders its decision on the Application;

D.      By letter dated December 2, 2025, the BCUC requested RDELP provide, as part of its responses to IR No. 2, additional clarifying information with respect of the Interim Rates Application;

E.       On December 4, 2025, RDELP filed its responses to IR No. 2 and a letter confirming that it seeks approval of a 10 percent rate increase effective January 1, 2026, resulting in a capacity charge of $0.81 per square metre (m²) per month and a thermal energy charge of $53.17 per megawatt hour (MWh); and 

F.       The BCUC has reviewed the Interim Rates Application and responses to IR No. 2 and considers that the following determinations are warranted.

NOW THEREFORE pursuant to sections 59 to 61 and 89 of the Utilities Commission Act, the BCUC orders as follows:

1.       RDELP is approved to implement a capacity charge of $0.81 per m² per month and a thermal energy charge of $53.17 per MWh, on an interim and refundable or recoverable basis, effective January 1, 2026.

2.       RDELP is directed to file revised tariff pages with the BCUC for endorsement, reflecting the terms of this order, within 30 days of the date of this order.

3.       An amended regulatory timetable is established, as set out in Appendix A to this order.

DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia, this      15^th      day of December 2025.

BY ORDER

Electronically signed by Bernard Magnan

B. A. Magnan

Commissioner

River District Energy Limited Partnership

2026 to 2028 Revenue Requirements and Rates