Topic:"Affordability" in M08929

ƐƚĂƚĞĚŝŶƚŚĞƌĞƉŽƌƚ͕ƚŚĞŽŶƐƵůƚĂŶƚŚĂƐŶŽƚŵĂĚĞ ĂŶLJŝŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚǀĞƌŝĨŝĐĂƚŝŽŶŽĨƐƵĐŚĚĂƚĂĂŶĚŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƚŝŽŶĂŶĚĚŽĞƐŶŽƚŚĂǀĞƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďŝůŝƚLJĨŽƌ ƚŚĞĂĐĐƵƌĂĐLJŽƌĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞŶĞƐƐƚŚĞƌĞŽĨ͘    ŝǀ     REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMA...

AI summary The text discusses the analysis of a regulatory proceeding document, highlighting the need for a comprehensive review of fuel-cost-adjustment mechanisms and their impact on rate structures and affordability. It also references a confidential hydro asset study and related appendices.

///͘ WKt Z,Kh^  DK>/d/KE^^dhzKs Zs/ t ϭ͘ /ŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƚŝŽŶ dŚĞ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƉĂŐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĂƚƚĂĐŚŵĞŶƚƐ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ĂŶ ĞƐƚŝŵĂƚĞ ŽĨ ĚĞŵŽůŝƚŝŽŶ ĐŽƐƚƐ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĐŽŶĐĞƉƚƵĂůƉŽǁĞƌŚŽƵƐĞĚĞĐŽŵŵŝƐƐŝŽŶŝŶŐƉůĂŶƐĨŽƌĞĂĐŚŽĨE^W/͛ƐϯϭŝĚĞ...

AI summary The document discusses the evaluation of rate structures and cost recovery mechanisms, emphasizing the need for alignment between base rates and actual costs. It outlines the importance of regulatory oversight and the impact of fuel cost adjustments on customer incentives and overall affordability.

 Ϯ͘ ŽŶĐƌĞƚĞǁŝƚŚZĞďĂƌ;ǁŝƚŚŵĞƚĂůƉƌŽũĞĐƚŝŽŶƐͿ   ϯ͘ DŝdžĞĚůŽĂĚƐ       dŽƌďƌŽŽŬΘŝƐƉŽƐĂůĂŶĚZĞĐŽǀĞƌLJ ϭ͘ ŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƚŝŽŶĂŶĚƐŽƌƚĞĚĚĞŵŽůŝƚŝŽŶĚĞďƌŝƐ   x ƌŝĐŬ͕ďůŽĐŬ͕ĐŽŶĐƌĞƚĞ    x ƐƉŚĂůƚ     x ƐƉŚĂůƚƐŚŝ...

AI summary The text discusses the analysis of a hydro asset study, including the evaluation of asset management, cost considerations, and the implications of energy efficiency programs. It mentions the importance of addressing energy efficiency and affordability in the context of regulatory proceedings.

ŽƐĂů͘ x ZĞŵŽǀĞŽǀĞƌŚĞĂĚƌŝĚŐĞƌĂŶĞĂŶĚƐƚŽĐŬƉŝůĞĚƚƵƌďŽŐĞŶĞƌĂƚŽƌŵĂŝŶĐŽŵƉŽŶĞŶƚƐ͕ƐŽƌƚĂŶĚƐƚŽĐŬƉŝůĞĂƚ ƐŝƚĞĨŽƌƐĂůǀĂŐĞĂŶĚĚŝƐƉŽƐĂů͘ x ŝƐŵĂŶƚůĞĞdžƚĞƌŝŽƌǁĂůůƐĂŶĚƌĞůĂƚĞĚĐŽŵƉŽŶĞŶƚƐ͕ƐƚŽĐŬƉŝůĞĚĞŵŽůŝƚŝŽŶŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůĨŽƌĚŝƐƉŽƐĂů͘/...

AI summary The text discusses concerns related to regulatory processes, including fuel-cost-adjustment mechanisms, program evaluations, and the impact of policy decisions on energy efficiency and affordability. It also addresses the need for stakeholder engagement and the importance of ensuring equitable access to energy programs.

Ő ƚŚĞ ŽŶͲƐŝƚĞ ƐĞǁĂŐĞ ĚŝƐƉŽƐĂů ƐLJƐƚĞŵ͕ ƐĂŶŝƚĂƌLJ ƉƵŵƉƐ ĂŶĚ ƉŝƉŝŶŐ͕ ĂŶLJ ĨƌĞƐŚǁĂƚĞƌƉŝƉŝŶŐĂŶĚĞƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚ͘ x ŝƐƉŽƐĂůŽĨĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƚŝŽŶĂŶĚĚĞŵŽůŝƚŝŽŶĚĞďƌŝƐʹƚƌƵĐŬƐĞůĞĐƚĞĚŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůƐƚŽĂĚĞƐŝŐŶĂƚĞĚĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƚŝŽŶ ĚĞďƌŝƐ ĚŝƐƉŽƐĂů...

AI summary The text discusses the challenges in managing fuel costs and the implications of delayed rate adjustments, highlighting the need for better alignment between base rates and actual costs. It also mentions the importance of asset management, infrastructure planning, and the impact of these factors on energy efficiency and customer affordability.

ĂŶĚƌĞůĂƚĞĚĐŽŵƉŽŶĞŶƚƐ͕ƐƚŽĐŬƉŝůĞĚĞŵŽůŝƚŝŽŶŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůĨŽƌĚŝƐƉŽƐĂů͘ x ZĞŵŽǀĞĂŶĚĚĞŵŽůŝƐŚŵĂŝŶĨůŽŽƌƌĞŝŶĨŽƌĐĞĚĐŽŶĐƌĞƚĞƐůĂď͘^ƚŽĐŬƉŝůĞĚĞŵŽůŝƚŝŽŶŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůĨŽƌĚŝƐƉŽƐĂů͘ x ZĞŵŽǀĞĞdžƉŽƐĞĚŝŶƚĞƌŝŽƌƐƚĞĞůƉĞŶƐƚŽĐŬ͕ŵĂŝŶƉĞŶƐƚŽĐŬďƵƚƚĞ...

AI summary The text discusses topics related to energy efficiency, cost management, and regulatory considerations in the context of a regulatory proceeding. It highlights issues such as fuel cost adjustments, asset retirement obligations, and the impact of various programs on affordability and cost recovery.

ůĂƚĞĚ ĐŽŵƉŽŶĞŶƚƐ͕ ƐƚŽĐŬƉŝůĞ ĚĞŵŽůŝƚŝŽŶ ŵĂƚĞƌŝĂů ĨŽƌ ĚŝƐƉŽƐĂů͘ x ZĞŵŽǀĞĂŶĚĚĞŵŽůŝƐŚŵĂŝŶĨůŽŽƌƌĞŝŶĨŽƌĐĞĚĐŽŶĐƌĞƚĞƐůĂďĂŶĚƌĞůĂƚĞĚƌĞŝŶĨŽƌĐĞĚĐŽŶĐƌĞƚĞƐƵďƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ͘ ^ƚŽĐŬƉŝůĞĚĞŵŽůŝƚŝŽŶŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůĨŽƌĚŝƐƉŽƐĂů͘dŚŝƐƉŽǁĞƌŚŽƵƐĞŽƵƚ...

AI summary The text discusses various aspects of utility regulation, including accounting policies, cost recovery, and the management of asset retirement obligations. It also touches on energy efficiency programs, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory processes such as prudence reviews and compliance with legislation.

Dd ^hDDZz&KZ^^ dZ d/Z D EdK>/'d/KE^;ZKͿ^dhz;LJ^LJƐƚĞŵͿ   x /ŶĨŝůůĨŽƵŶĚĂƚŝŽŶƐƵďƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞĞdžĐĂǀĂƚŝŽŶǁŝƚŚĐŽŵƉĂĐƚĞĚŐƌĂŶƵůĂƌŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůĂŶĚƐĞůĞĐƚĞĚĐůĞĂŶĚĞŵŽůŝƚŝŽŶ ĚĞďƌŝƐƚŽƚŚĞĞdžŝƐƚŝŶŐƚĂŝůƌĂĐĞĐŽĨĨĞƌĚĂŵƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ͘dŚ...

AI summary The text discusses the importance of proper accounting and financial management in utility regulation, emphasizing the need for accurate cost recovery, asset retirement obligations, and the impact of various regulatory mechanisms on utility operations and customer affordability.

ǁŝƚŚ ĐůĞĂŶ ŐƌĂǀĞů ĂŶĚ ĐƌƵƐŚĞĚ ƐƚŽŶĞ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ĐůĞĂŶ Ĩŝůů ĂƐ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚ͘'ƌĂĚĞƐƵƌĨĂĐĞƐ͕ŚLJĚƌŽͲƐĞĞĚĂŶĚͬƉůĂŶƚƚƌĞĞƐŽƌŽƚŚĞƌǀĞŐĞƚĂƚŝŽŶƚŽƌĞƚƵƌŶƚŚŝƐĂƌĞĂƚŽĂŶĞĂƌ ŶĂƚƵƌĂůƐƚĂƚĞ͘    ϲϵ     REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFO...

AI summary The text discusses the evaluation of a hydro asset study, focusing on the analysis of costs, benefits, and implications of various energy-related initiatives, including potential impacts on affordability, efficiency, and resource planning. It also touches on regulatory considerations and stakeholder engagement.

^d/Dd ^hDDZz&KZ^^ dZ d/Z D EdK>/'d/KE^;ZKͿ^dhz;LJ^LJƐƚĞŵͿ   ĚŝǀĞƌƐŝŽŶƉĂƐƚƚŚĞƉŽǁĞƌŚŽƵƐĞůŽĐĂƚŝŽŶƚŽĂǀŽŝĚƉŽƚĞŶƚŝĂůĞƌŽƐŝŽŶĂŶĚůŽĐĂůĨůŽŽĚŝŶŐƉƌŽďůĞŵƐ ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚǁŝƚŚŚĂǀŝŶŐƚŚĞƌŝǀĞƌĨůŽǁƚŚƌŽƵŐŚĂĨŝůůĞĚĂƌĞĂůŽĐĂƚĞ...

AI summary The document discusses the evaluation of a regulatory proceeding related to energy management, including considerations of fuel-cost-adjustment mechanisms, cost-recovery, and the impact of energy-efficiency programs on rate structures and customer affordability.

ĞƚŽďƵƌLJĐŽŶĐƌĞƚĞĚĞďƌŝƐ͘ &ŽůůŽǁŝŶŐĚĞŵŽůŝƚŝŽŶƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐĐĂƚĞŐŽƌŝnjĂƚŝŽŶƐĂƉƉůLJƚŽƚŚĞEŝĐƚĂƵdžĨĂĐŝůŝƚLJ͗ x /ŶƚĂŬĞůĂƐƐŝĨŝĐĂƚŝŽŶͲĂƚĞŐŽƌLJ͕ƉĞŶƐƚŽĐŬƉŝƉĞŝƐďƵƌŝĞĚďĞůŽǁŐƌŽƵŶĚ͖    ϴϭ     REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION RE...

AI summary The document discusses various aspects of regulatory proceedings, including topics such as asset retirement obligations, hydro asset studies, and the impact of regulatory decisions on utility operations and customer affordability. It outlines key considerations for managing energy resources and regulatory compliance.

/E' ^d/Dd ^hDDZz&KZ^^ dZ d/Z D EdK>/'d/KE^;ZKͿ^dhz;LJ^LJƐƚĞŵͿ   x /ŶĨŝůů ĨŽƵŶĚĂƚŝŽŶ ƐƵďƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ ĞdžĐĂǀĂƚŝŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ ĐŽŵƉĂĐƚĞĚ ĐůĞĂŶ ŐƌĂŶƵůĂƌ ŵĂƚĞƌŝĂů ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƚĂŝůƌĂĐĞ ĐŽĨĨĞƌĚĂŵ͘dŚĞĐŽĨĨĞƌĚĂŵĐĂŶƌĞŵĂŝŶŽŶĐĞŐƌĂ...

AI summary The text discusses the importance of aligning base rates with actual costs to avoid perverse incentives, the need for accurate forecasting and planning in utility operations, and the implementation of programs to improve energy efficiency and affordability. It also outlines the challenges in managing resources and ensuring regulatory compliance.

ĂƐƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚ͕ƐŽƌƚĂŶĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƉŝůĞĂƚƐŝƚĞĨŽƌƐĂůǀĂŐĞĂŶĚĚŝƐƉŽƐĂů͘ x ĞŵŽůŝƐŚĞdžƚĞƌŝŽƌǁĂůůƐĂŶĚƌĞůĂƚĞĚĐŽŵƉŽŶĞŶƚƐ͕ƐƚŽĐŬƉŝůĞĚĞŵŽůŝƚŝŽŶŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůĨŽƌĚŝƐƉŽƐĂů͘ x ZĞŵŽǀĞĂŶĚĚĞŵŽůŝƐŚŵĂŝŶĨůŽŽƌƌĞŝŶĨŽƌĐĞĚĐŽŶĐƌĞƚĞƐůĂď͘^ƚŽĐŬƉŝůĞĚĞŵŽ...

AI summary The text discusses various aspects of regulatory proceedings, including energy efficiency programs, cost recovery mechanisms, and the impact of fuel cost adjustments. It outlines concerns related to asset management, affordability, and stakeholder engagement in energy regulation.

Dd ^hDDZz&KZ^^ dZ d/Z D EdK>/'d/KE^;ZKͿ^dhz;LJ^LJƐƚĞŵͿ   x /ŶĨŝůůĨŽƵŶĚĂƚŝŽŶƐƵďƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞĞdžĐĂǀĂƚŝŽŶǁŝƚŚĐŽŵƉĂĐƚĞĚĐůĞĂŶŐƌĂŶƵůĂƌŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůƚŽƚŚĞĞdžŝƐƚŝŶŐƚĂŝůƌĂĐĞ ĐŽĨĨĞƌĚĂŵƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ͘dŚĞĐŽĨĨĞƌĚĂŵĐĂŶƌĞŵĂŝŶŽŶĐĞŐƌĂ...

AI summary The document discusses issues related to the regulation of utility services, including the impact of fuel-cost-adjustment mechanisms, affordability concerns, and the need for improved billing procedures and energy efficiency programs. It also addresses the importance of stakeholder engagement and the regulatory oversight of utility operations.

ŚƚŚĞƌĞŝƐĂŵƉůĞůĂLJĚŽǁŶĂƌĞĂĂƚƚŚŝƐƐŝƚĞ͕ĚƵĞƚŽĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚĐůŽƐĞƉƌŽdžŝŵŝƚLJŽĨďĞĚƌŽĐŬƚŽ ƚŚĞƐƵƌĨĂĐĞ͕ƚŚĞƌĞŵĂLJďĞůŝŵŝƚĞĚŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJƚŽĚŝƐƉŽƐĞŽĨĚĞŵŽůŝƚŝŽŶŐĞŶĞƌĂƚĞĚŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůƐďLJ ďƵƌLJŝŶŐ͘ &ŽůůŽǁŝŶŐĚĞŵŽůŝƚŝŽŶƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐĐĂƚĞŐŽƌŝnjĂƚŝŽ...

AI summary The text discusses the evaluation of a fuel-cost-adjustment mechanism and various aspects of energy efficiency, including program design, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory considerations. It outlines key themes such as energy efficiency programs, regulatory processes, and affordability.

risk weighting, risk assessment)? input on how NS Power’s IRP might be informed by the HalifACT initiative. AREA Objectives The Objectives suggest a preference for Objective 1 on page 3 refers to a “affordable” rates, but the Developing “r...

AI summary The document discusses a tension between 'affordable' rates and a 'least-cost' electricity strategy in Nova Scotia's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), influenced by the HalifACT initiative. It highlights the need to prioritize minimizing cumulative present value of annual revenue requirements over the planning horizon, with the Energy and Analysis Committee (EAC) incorporating this into the Analysis Plan outlined in the Terms of Reference (TOR).

Thank you for your letter, entitled ‘M08929 - Integrated Resource Planning’ dated December 19, 2019. Having reviewed the Draft Terms of Reference’ (“ToR”) in respect of the Integrated Resource Plan (“IRP”), and the related stakeholder comm...

AI summary The response to NS Power's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) ToR supports alignment with SDGA goals, flexibility in strategy development, and long-term affordability. It criticizes the current IRP decision criterion for not prioritizing greenhouse gas emissions reduction and urges explicit stakeholder review timelines. The stakeholder supports examining coal unit replacement by 2030/2040 and earlier.

1.4 Planning Objectives Through the IRP process, Nova Scotia Power undertakes long-term system planning to understand how the electricity system will continue to meet the needs of customers and respond to changes in the electricity plannin...

AI summary Nova Scotia Power uses the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) process for 25-year system planning to ensure safety, reliability, affordability, and cleanliness. Near-term 'no-regrets' actions are prioritized to align with long-term objectives, addressing future uncertainties while maintaining customer interests.

AFFORDABLE - • Minimize the present value of the long term costs of the power system - • Manage the magnitude and timing of electricity rate impacts

AI summary The document emphasizes minimizing long-term power system costs and managing the timing and magnitude of electricity rate impacts. These objectives focus on affordability and cost control strategies for the energy sector.

tricity rates while facilitating carbon reductions in other sectors; this is a consequential finding which supports the electricity sector's role in economic decarbonization of the provincial economy. 2. Decarbonizing Nova Scotia Power's e...

AI summary The analysis emphasizes the need to decarbonize Nova Scotia Power's electricity supply by eliminating coal generation by 2030-2040 and increasing renewable energy to 70% by 2045. This transition must balance affordability, reliability, and sufficient firm capacity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

n the electricity sector, as well as by enabling complementary reductions in buildings and transportation from electrification. Over the last decade, the electricity sector in Nova Scotia has reduced emissions by more than 30% relative to...

AI summary Nova Scotia's electricity sector reduced emissions by 30% since 2005 through renewable energy adoption. Continued integration of low-carbon resources like wind and hydro is needed to maintain this progress while ensuring reliability and affordability. NSPI must meet growing energy demand without increasing carbon emissions.

Current proposed metrics appear to be revenue requirement NS Power uses nominal input values, and thus a minimization over a long horizon since the modeling nominal discount rate when calculating NPVRR. calculated PVRR utilizing a real lev...

AI summary The text discusses proposed metrics for revenue requirement, GHG production, and affordability, highlighting concerns about the use of nominal versus real discount rates and the need for more detailed and consistent accounting treatment. The text also mentions the inclusion of GHG metrics and the need for annual production data.

s of air pollution on human health; the latest air quality research suggests that in the US, the health benefits alone are enough to justify an immediate transition away from fossil fuels. 3. The rate impact comparison also illustrates the...

AI summary The text discusses the health benefits of transitioning from fossil fuels and highlights the inequitable economic impacts of high DER adoption, noting that wealthier individuals may benefit more from reduced energy costs, while the burden falls disproportionately on less affluent Nova Scotians. It also supports the need for steep carbon emission reductions in line with Nova Scotia’s Sustainable Development Goals Act.

The outcome of the IRP should be primarily informed by the lowest long-term cost to ratepayers. Affordability should be examined as part of the lowest cost long-term trajectory, as short-term rate impacts have many influences such as fuel...

AI summary The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) should prioritize the lowest long-term cost to ratepayers, with affordability considered within this framework. NS Power has identified Plan 2.0C as the Reference Plan for calculating avoided energy and capacity costs and will provide additional reference costs for Plan 2.1C prior to the IRP Report being filed with the UARB.

P a g e 42 45 Nova Scotia Power IRP Final Report Appendix L Page 123 of 125 Category Participant Comment NS Power Response stakeholder engagement has improved the overall process. NS Power agrees with the modifications to Action Plan Item...

AI summary Efficiency One comments that affordability discussions should remain within DSM planning and criticizes the rate impacts methodology as flawed. NS Power agrees with modifications to Action Plan Item 2e and updated the Final Report accordingly, stating that affordability is a criteria for evaluating DSM procurement.

FINDING STAKEHOLDER STAKEHOLDER COMMENT REFERENCE Halifax No comments n/a Regional Municipality Hendricks No comments n/a Heritage Supportive with ongoing monitoring: 2020-11-13; p. 5/5 -‘With respect to the existing CTs, NSPI has stated t...

AI summary Heritage Gas supports ongoing monitoring of the existing LFO-fired CTs due to concerns about their reliability and the inconclusive data on the impact of sustaining capital investments. This is based on an audit report that highlighted potential issues with the units.

E. DSM Not Fully Integrated Energy efficiency scenarios-One of the outcomes of the IRP is supposed to be avoided cost levels that will be passed on to EOne in order to develop energy efficiency (EE) strategies. It is unclear how this appro...

AI summary The SBA criticizes NSPI's IRP for inadequate DSM integration, lack of implementation plans, and insufficient affordability considerations. The IRP fails to establish tolerable rate increases for higher DSM scenarios, despite DSM's role in grid flexibility. Affordability is only tangentially addressed through cost impacts.

B. Metrics - NPV Partial Revenue Requirements, Rate Impacts The primary metric of partial revenue requirement minimization over a long horizon was calculated PVRR utilizing a real levelized capital cost recovery factor in modeling. The SBA...

AI summary The text discusses metrics for partial revenue requirements and rate impacts, emphasizing the need for clarity on capital cost recovery methods (nominal vs. levelized). The SBA requests additional metrics, including affordability analysis via kWh costs, long-term capital investment breakdowns, and imported power reliance. NSPI acknowledges limitations in current rate impact metrics and highlights the importance of financial viability assessments.

em supports the production of more renewable energy including wind power, solar, green hydrogen, and renewable natural gas ("RNG"). In the Nova Scotia context, it also provides the following benefits: - The ability to more cost-effectively...

AI summary An integrated energy system in Nova Scotia supports renewable energy production and offers benefits like cost-effective peak demand management, reduced reliance on external jurisdictions, increased economic growth, energy resiliency, and lower costs for users. IRP scenarios indicate electrification will significantly increase capacity needs, with Québec's integrated approach to emissions reduction cited as a model.

Responses and Recommendations Summarized Overarching Theme IRP Response Relevance Recommendations IRP Presentation Inadequate presentation Results in misleading information Work with key stakeholders (including neighbouring provinces) to c...

AI summary The document highlights concerns with the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) regarding inadequate presentation, weak targets, and lack of a social lens. It calls for collaboration with stakeholders, revised climate strategies, and the inclusion of social equity considerations, such as subsidized rates for those in energy poverty.

tes (and corresponding earlier reductions in greenhouse gas emissions) resulted in higher cumulative NPV of revenue requirement and near term rate effects. RII recognized this in its comments as well: The pace of greenhouse gas emission re...

AI summary The text discusses the balance between reducing greenhouse gas emissions and electricity rates, NS Power's approach to affordability and coal retirements, and the role of electrification in decarbonization. RII emphasizes the need for least-cost emission reduction strategies and commends NS Power's inclusion of electrification in the IRP.

2030 based on the scenario). NS Power agrees that testing the robustness of the base sustaining capital forecast for its coal fleet is appropriate. As described, the high cost sensitivity (all units at +50% for the 25-year planning horizon...

AI summary NS Power agrees that testing the robustness of the base sustaining capital forecast for its coal fleet is appropriate, noting that high cost sensitivity did not significantly alter the optimal retirement path. NS Power emphasizes the importance of monitoring costs and making prudent future investments to ensure affordability and a transition to cleaner energy.