EfficiencyOne files comprehensive RIR responses for its 2026 DSM Extension application, revealing rising unit costs, demand response underperformance, and a legislatively prescribed $63.75 million investment level.

M12249 · EfficiencyOne - 2026 DSM Extension ApplicationIN THE MATTER OF An Application by EfficiencyOne for Approval of the 2026 DSM Extension for Demand-Side Management Activities between EfficiencyOne and Nova Scotia Power Inc., and for Approval of the Amendment to the 2023-2025 Demand-Side Management Purchase Agreement between EfficiencyOne and Nova Scotia Power Inc.

AI summary

The 2026 Demand Side Management Extension targets 116.0 GWh of energy savings, 18.9 MW of peak demand savings, and 16.3 MW of available demand response capacity at a legislatively fixed investment of $63.75 million, continuing the 2023–2025 DSM Plan framework rather than introducing a new standalone plan.
Cost Effectiveness scrutiny is significant: the Home Energy Assessment component fails the Total Resource Cost (TRC) test due to updated avoided costs from the 2022 Evergreen IRP, lower billing-analysis-adjusted savings, and higher incremental costs, while the overall EE portfolio carries a TRC of 1.6 and DR programs show negative net benefits of approximately -$3 million.
Forecasting Methodology for avoided costs raised transparency concerns — NS Power embedded carbon costs within avoided energy costs without providing a separate breakdown, preventing Efficiencyone from isolating the carbon cost component, a gap intervenors including Synapse pressed on.
Load Management through demand response showed material underperformance in the 2023–2025 period: battery and water heater enrollment fell well short of plan due to firmware connectivity failures with Shifted Energy controllers, customer awareness challenges, and lower-than-modelled battery adoption, though E1 asserts it remains on track for the 90% compliance threshold when 2026 targets are included.
Low Income Programs received updated methodology using 2021 Census LIM-AT data (14.9% prevalence vs. the prior 17.2%), with ~20% of the $63.75M portfolio directed to low-income and equity programs including the Mi'kmaw Home Energy Efficiency Project, Affordable Single-Family Homes, and Affordable Multi-Family Housing.

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

E-3 E1 (CA) RIR 1 to 7 exhibits
E-4 E1 (IG) RIR 1 to 26 exhibits
E-5 E1 (MEU) RIR 1 to 2 exhibits
E-6 E1 (NSEB) RIR 1 to 17 - Redacted exhibits
E-6(C) E1 (NSEB) RIR 1 to 3 - Board Only Confidential Board Only exhibits
E-7 E1 (SBA) RIR 1 to 4 exhibits
E-8 E1 (Synapse) RIR 1 to 36 - Redacted exhibits
E-8(C) E1 (Synapse) RIR 1 35 - Attachment A - Confidential exhibits
98247 Letter E1 re: RIRs & Confidential Treatment other_documents
98248 Confidential Undertaking other_documents