AI-generated summary
· Application · 07/11/2024
Consumer Advocate and Board experts filed intervenor evidence in NSPI's M11689 2024 Load Forecast proceeding, raising concerns about EV peak demand assumptions, hybrid heating progress, time-varying pricing forecasts, and inconsistencies between the load forecast and distribution planning.
AI summary
- The Consumer Advocate's expert (John Wilson, Grid Strategies) identified six specific deficiencies, recommending NSPI reduce its EV peak demand contribution assumption from 0.9 kW/vehicle to 0.45 kW/vehicle based on Smart Grid Nova Scotia data showing only 0.4–0.6 kW/vehicle in actual 2022–2023 measurements (Exhibit N-2, CA RIR-4).
- Wilson criticized the time-varying pricing peak reduction forecast — unchanged from 2021 except for a three-year delay — as unreasonable given that the pilot achieved only 943 watts of load reduction through winter 2022–2023, far below the forecast 4 MW reduction by 2025 (Exhibit N-1, 2024 Load Forecast Report, p. 78).
- Wilson flagged a material inconsistency between NSPI's load forecast (projecting 7,021 new residential customers for 2024) and its distribution planning forecast (projecting only 4,374 new customer installs), a gap of 2,647 customers, and recommended the Board require an interim alignment report by fall 2024 with changes incorporated into the 2025 ACE Plan.
- Synapse Energy Economics (on behalf of the Board) noted that the 2024 forecast is more conservative than 2023, projecting a 0.2% CAGR in annual sales and 1.2% CAGR in peak through 2034, with EVs and heat pumps as the dominant growth drivers; Synapse raised 22 recommendations including developing portfolio-level ELCC analysis for demand response and modeling hybrid heating within NSPI's own SAE model rather than as an external adjustment.
- The Small Business Advocate submitted three brief comments urging NSPI to incorporate Smart Grid Nova Scotia findings into load models, expand small business recruitment into TVP/TOU/CPP pilot programs, and provide updates on Net-Zero Energy Ready building code developments given Nova Scotia's 2030 commitment under the Pan-Canadian Framework.
Disclaimer: This summary was generated by AI from the filings it describes. We take care to make it accurate, but errors are possible - and it isn't advice. Only the filings themselves are the record: if you're relying on something here, confirm it against the source documents or the Nova Scotia Energy Board's own record. Full disclaimer →
What was filed
Documents filed on this day
- N-7 Evidence of John Wilson, filed on behalf of CA
- N-7-(i) Attachment 1 - CV of John Wilson
- N-8 Evidence of Synapse (BCC)
- 94739 Submission - SBA