AI-generated summary
· Rir · 11/25/2025
EfficiencyOne filed responses to three Board information requests on its 2025 Q2 DSM Report, addressing program shortfalls linked to a Nova Scotia Power cybersecurity incident and cost-structure rigidities across residential, small business, and demand response programs.
AI summary
- IR-01 (Residential Behaviour Program): Efficiencyone confirmed it still expects to meet the 7 GWh first-year savings target for the Residential Behaviour component in 2025; however, the program has been paused indefinitely since May 2025 because Nova Scotia Power's Cybersecurity incident rendered Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) customer data unavailable, halting report issuance and portal access for participants (E-2, pp. 1–3).
- Cost inflexibility explained: Program costs for the Existing Residential portfolio did not fall proportionally with savings because the Residential Behaviour component, while representing ~50% of Existing Residential energy savings, accounts for only ~9% of total investment; fixed delivery agent contracts and non-variable platform costs persist even during the pause (E-2, pp. 3–4).
- IR-02 (Small Business Energy Solutions): A Q2 2024 incentive restructuring — raising rates from $0.25–$0.40/kWh to $0.55/kWh and broadening eligibility — drove strong application growth but increased per-unit costs; participation was subsequently scaled back in 2025 to stay within the approved $173 million plan budget, yielding a projected 25% energy savings shortfall (9.4 GWh vs. 12.6 GWh planned) against a 4% spending increase ($7.1M vs. $6.8M planned) (E-2, pp. 5–6).
- IR-03 (Demand Response): Lower-than-expected Residential Demand Response capacity was driven largely by equipment quality issues with domestic hot water controllers (all pre-Q2 2023 units removed) and slower-than-expected re-installation; for BNI Demand Response, facility enrollment (143) exceeded the plan target (80) but delivered capacity fell short due to unfavourable event timing, high opt-out rates, and limited advance notice from NS Power; investment remained near planned levels because incentives are enrollment- and device-based rather than capacity-performance-based, and foundational platform costs (fixed DERMS delivery contract) scale with enrolled devices, not delivered capacity (E-2, pp. 7–11).
- Forward-looking implications: E1 indicated that learnings from the 2023–2025 plan period — particularly the performance of direct load control smart thermostats, domestic hot water controllers, and the Commercial & Industrial Curtailment aggregator pathway — will form the foundation of the forthcoming 2027–2031 DSM Plan; behavioural demand response and dynamic pricing pathways are not being modelled for the next plan (E-2, p. 8).
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What was filed
Documents filed on this day
- E-2 E1 (NSEB) RIR 1 to 3
- 100079 Letter E1 re: RIRs