Topic:"Capacity Market Participation" in M12619

1 using the Asset Management Mechanism described in Section 3.0, which enables consistent, risk- 2 informed prioritization across the fleet. Investments are selected to maintain safety, reliability, and 3 affordability, with consideration...

AI summary The text outlines NS Power's approach to asset management, emphasizing risk-informed prioritization, safety, reliability, and affordability. It highlights the transition of thermal generation assets toward retirement or fuel conversion by 2030, in line with the Province’s Clean Power Plan, and discusses capital investment plans for both thermal and renewable generation in 2026.

uts of the condition score for these projects will be provided in subsequent ACE 10 Plans for five years following the in-service date of the project. 11 12 The Board’s Decision pertaining to the 2023 Performance standards provided the fol...

AI summary The Board has directed NS Power to prepare a comprehensive five-year reliability plan to track service improvements and progress against performance goals, to be filed by December 31, 2024. This follows the 2023 Performance Standards Report and relates to the 2026 ACE Plan.

1 2 Significant amount of customer hours from non-MED days due to adverse weather in certain years, 3 such as 2021 and 2022 are not excluded above and do contribute to the volume of tree contacts 4 experienced. Despite the increased freque...

AI summary The text discusses the impact of severe weather on power outages and NS Power's efforts to improve reliability through vegetation management and equipment upgrades. Despite increased weather challenges, there is a positive trend in reducing customer impact. Investments in transmission and distribution rights-of-way are highlighted as part of the 2026 ACE Plan.

2026 ACE Plan C0080206 Page 2 of 5 JUSTIFICATION: Justification Criteria: Thermal Sub Criteria: Equipment Replacement/ Refurbishment Why do this project? NS Power conducts condition and risk assessment and analysis based on the annual boil...

AI summary NS Power is proposing the replacement of boiler components such as tubes, tube shielding, and tube locks to enhance system reliability, mitigate the risk of unplanned outages, and ensure safe and cost-effective operation. The project is necessary due to the increased risk of failures from degraded components and the potential for higher costs from emergency repairs.

on is to remove fly ash particulate from the gas expelled by the boiler. This change will provide a new internal ash collection process using live bottom trailers for collection and transportation. Do Nothing The current design of the ESP...

AI summary The document discusses a proposed change to the ash collection process at TUC3, involving the use of live bottom trailers for internal ash collection and transportation, as opposed to the current system that relies on an external vacuum truck to collect ash manually.

ur operating units, which provide multiple benefits to NS Power and its customers. This unit, along with all the other combustion turbines, provides essential ancillary services to the system such as: • Peaking capacity – generation used t...

AI summary The text discusses the importance of maintaining four operational units at Burnside, highlighting their role in providing peaking capacity, black start capability, and fast-acting generation to support system reliability, especially with the integration of variable renewable energy sources like wind.

required to complete the project within the available outage window, unforeseen material or contract cost increases, or unforeseen costs related to accessing structures in wet or remote locations. Date: December 12, 2025 Page 361 of 782 RE...

AI summary The document outlines the 70W-T52 transformer addition project at the 70W High St. Bridgewater substation, aimed at enhancing system reliability, supporting load growth, and future voltage conversion. The new transformer will operate in parallel with 70W-T53 and allow for the eventual retirement of 70W-T51 once feeder conversions are complete.

Resources Stage 1 300 2027 20274 Stage 2 300 2029-2030 2029-20304 Page 6 of 55 Date: December 12, 2025 Page 659 of 782 REDACTED REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) 2026 ACE Plan Appendix F Page 7 of 55 The Path to 2030 – 2025 Updat...

AI summary The document outlines energy resource plans including fuel conversions at existing units (e.g., Point Tupper 2, Lingan 1/3/4), new wind/solar capacity (1,139 MW), energy storage (200–400 MW), fast-acting generation (600 MW), and load management initiatives (150 MW) from 2025–2029. Projects are scheduled for 2027–2030 with specific capacity and commissioning dates.

urce outside Nova Scotia. 22 23 This requirement was incorporated into the most recent Evergreen IRP and is considered in the 24 2030 Clean Power Plan. 25 2 N.S. Reg. 110/2021. Page 10 of 55 Date: December 12, 2025 Page 663 of 782 REDACTED...

AI summary Nova Scotia's Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act mandates 80% renewable electricity by 2030 and coal phase-out by 2030. These targets are integrated into the Evergreen IRP and 2030 Clean Power Plan, with the 2026 ACE Plan Appendix F detailing implementation steps.

support the transition of accountabilities to the IESO-NS. 8 M12303, 2024 Annual DDA Report, Board letter, October 17, 2025. 9 IESO-Nova-Scotia-REOI-for-Capacity.pdf Page 15 of 55 Date: December 12, 2025 Page 668 of 782 REDACTED REDACTED (...

AI summary The document references the transition of accountabilities to the IESO-NS, citing the 2024 Annual DDA Report and a Board letter dated October 17, 2025. It also mentions the 2026 ACE Plan Appendix F and 'The Path to 2030 – 2025 Update,' highlighting regulatory and planning processes related to decarbonization and capacity management.

1 projects to date: both IR-673 and IR-669 are expected to be in service in the near-term as per the 2 forecast COD table (Figure 3 above). In addition, both IR-668 and IR-677 are making progress in 3 engineering and construction to achiev...

AI summary The document discusses the progress of projects IR-673, IR-669, IR-668, and IR-677, and details the Green Choice Program (GCP), established under the 2022 Electricity Act amendments. The GCP aims to procure 1,500–2,000 GWh of low-impact renewable energy annually for large consumers, supporting Nova Scotia’s 2030 decarbonization goals. NS Power collaborates with the Department of Energy (DOE) and executes participant agreements for the program.

for new fast-acting generation capacity was also confirmed in the 26 Evergreen IRP analysis and it was included as part of Action Item #3c in the August 2023 update 27 to the IRP Action Plan and Roadmap, which points to a range of 600MW to...

AI summary The document confirms the need for new fast-acting generation capacity, as outlined in the Evergreen IRP analysis and included in Action Item #3c of the August 2023 IRP update. The required capacity ranges from 600MW to 900MW, emphasizing a significant increase in system firm generation capacity.

1 In The Path to 2030 – 2025 Update, capacity and timing for new fast-acting generation has been 2 assumed to be the same as the 2025 10-Year System Outlook report and The Path to 2030 – 2024 3 update. On October 16, 2025, the IESO-NS issu...

AI summary The document outlines IESO-NS's RFP process for 300 MW fast-acting generation by 2029, a proposed 100 MW SCCT capacity contract by 2028, and NS Power's contingency plans for timeline delays. It also references fuel conversion initiatives at existing thermal units under the 2030 Clean Power Plan.

rged as a consistent outcome 26 across all 2023 Evergreen IRP scenarios. The value of this conversion is supported by the low 27 capital cost (these units already operate on HFO) and the ability for these units to operate in a 28 peaking c...

AI summary The analysis highlights the conversion of existing HFO-operating units to peaking capacity as a consistent outcome across 2023 Evergreen IRP scenarios, citing low capital costs and suitability for net peak demand periods. This aligns with the 2026 ACE Plan Appendix F.

2026 ACE Plan NSEB IR-1 Attachment 1 Page 1 of 3 1987.25 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17.1 17...

AI summary The document presents a table with financial and project details for the 2026 Annual Capital Expenditure (ACE) Plan, including a Transmission Line (WTI) project under the Reliability Enhancement category.

2026 ACE Plan NSEB IR-7 Attachment 1 Page 1 of 1 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) CI# Project # Project Long Title Invesment Trigger Retire by 2030 POA C0080731 Steam POA Arrowhead Refurbishment 2026 Point Aconi Generating Stati...

AI summary The document outlines a list of projects under the 2026 ACE Plan, including refurbishments and upgrades at the Point Aconi Generating Station. Each project includes details such as investment triggers, project titles, and associated costs. The projects are scheduled to be retired by 2030.

NON-CONFIDENTIAL Unit IRP ($) 2026 ACE Plan ($) Gas Turbines 24,774,538 13,031,695 Lingan Unit 1 11,974,570 10,069,701 Lingan Unit 2 2,390,016 299,478 Lingan Unit 3 8,000,674 10,612,049 Lingan Unit 4 7,546,476 7,289,107 Pt Aconi 16,442,889...

AI summary The document presents a comparison of investment requirements for various power generation units under the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and the 2026 ACE Plan. It includes a request for clarification on the annual rating and prioritization of capital projects and a response explaining the process for risk ratings and asset reviews.

NON-CONFIDENTIAL 1 Request IR-81: 2 3 G04: C0068898 TUC1 IP LP Last Stage Blade Replacement 4 5 Please provide the forecast capacity factor and utilization factor for TUC1 for each year 6 from 2026 up to and including 2035. 7 8 (a) Given t...

AI summary The response to Request IR-81 discusses the forecast capacity and utilization factors for TUC1 from 2026 to 2035, citing figures from the 2025 10-Year System Outlook. It highlights that maintaining TUC1 beyond 2035 is the lowest-cost option for providing essential firm capacity and winter reliability, as outlined in the Evergreen Integrated Resource Plan.

Assumptions: - 1. The peak feeder loading for 70W occurs during the Winter months, so that the substation transformer 70W-T53 can be loaded to 133% of its top nameplate rating before being considered to be in an overloaded condition. - 2....

AI summary The text outlines assumptions regarding the capacity and loading conditions of the 70W substation transformer and mobile substation 5P-MS, predicting potential contingency capacity issues by 2014 and transformer overload by 2018 under normal and higher-than-normal load growth rates.

.4 Contingency Capacity Criteria Violation at High Street (2012) Provided that load growth continues at 2.11% per year and that existing 4kV load is converted to 12kV, the High Street Sub-station Transformer 70W-T53 will experience a conti...

AI summary The High Street Sub-station Transformer 70W-T53 will face a contingency capacity criteria violation in 2012 if load growth continues at 2.11% annually and existing 4kV load is converted to 12kV.

2026 Annual Capital Expenditure (ACE) Plan (NSEB M12619) NSPI Responses to NSEB Information Requests 1 This technology provides a province‑wide, up‑to‑date assessment of vegetation 2 encroachment and condition, enabling NS Power to more ac...

AI summary The text discusses NS Power's use of technology to assess vegetation encroachment and improve vegetation management, supporting reliability goals. It also addresses a cost comparison for reconductor projects, highlighting differences in project scope and length.

Q: What conclusion do you draw from this review? A: It appears that NS Power may have a de facto policy of not utilizing a risk matrix or detailed schedule for transmission projects unless it wishes to apply a contingency higher than 15%....

AI summary The review suggests that NS Power may have a policy of not using a risk matrix or detailed schedule for transmission projects unless a contingency higher than 15% is applied. The 20% contingency used in the 2026 ACE Plan was not challenged based on the information provided.

Q: What are your general views on the Mersey Hydro Update? A: Consistent with views that I have expressed to the Board in prior ACE Plan proceedings, I am concerned that NS Power does not have a strong plan for protecting customers from ex...

AI summary The respondent expresses concern that NS Power lacks a strong plan to protect customers from excessive costs related to the potential redevelopment or decommissioning of the Mersey Hydro project. NS Power is currently investing in maintaining the facility while deferring a full application for redevelopment or decommissioning.

Q: Are there topics from the Path to 2030 Report that you wish to discuss? A: Yes. I am concerned that there has not been adequate stakeholder consultation regarding the Synchronous Condensers (ECEI) project (C0072808). The synchronous con...

AI summary The respondent is concerned about insufficient stakeholder consultation on the Synchronous Condensers (ECEI) project (C0072808). The project was first introduced in the 2025 ACE Plan with a budget of $244 million, but the Path to 2030 Report does not adequately reflect recent developments, such as the increased budget of $365 million for up to 9 units.

na Coastal Conservation League and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Need for capacity, adequacy of energy efficiency and renewable energy alternatives, and use of solar power as an energy resource. - 2014 South Carolina PSC Docket No. 2...

AI summary The document outlines expert testimony provided by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and other organizations in various regulatory proceedings, focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy alternatives, and system reliability. Testimonies span multiple jurisdictions and address topics such as capacity credit calculations, reserve margins, and project evaluations.

They are a known and essential component of the resource mix required in support of the Province's Clean Power Plan, and to achieve environmental policy targets. [NS Power Closing Submission, p. 12] [27] NS Power also submitted that any de...

AI summary NS Power argues that the Burnside #2 Combustion Turbine replacement is essential for reliable operation, meeting peak demand, integrating wind resources, and achieving environmental targets. The Board agrees, finding the project prudent and the cost estimate reasonable.

analysis comparing the Mersey Redevelopment Project to the decommissioning and partial decommissioning options. NS Power complied with these directives in Appendix E of its 2026 ACE Plan application. [224] The total cost of the Mersey Rede...

AI summary The Mersey Redevelopment Project's total cost has been estimated at around $1.2 billion in recent ACE Plans, with construction deferred until 2031. NS Power is awaiting the outcome of the IESO Nova Scotia IRP process and is addressing environmental regulatory and Mi'kmaq concerns, particularly regarding fish passage and compliance with the modernized Fisheries Act.

Request IR-44: - In reference to Impact of Reliability Projects. - a) On pdf page 92 of the application, NS Power states: "All T&D projects in the 2026 ACE Plan that are included in the Five-Year Reliability Plan will contribute to having...

AI summary The document requests clarification on the impact of reliability projects in the 2026 ACE Plan, specifically asking for expected improvements in performance metrics and a similar table for transmission projects.

Request IR-47: On page 99, NS Power states: "Over the course of the last year, NS Power has continued its work to identify and evaluate potential alternative reliability metrics." Please describe the alternative reliability metrics that NS...

AI summary The document contains three requests directed at NS Power regarding alternative reliability metrics, the 'resilience gap' concept, and a residential customer Value of Lost Load (VoLL) survey. The requests seek updates, analysis, and findings related to these topics.

Request IR-66: - What is the required lead time for expected parts delivery? - a) Will parts be purchased in advance of the planned outage to limit the impact that delivery delay may have on overall outage time? - b) After completion of th...

AI summary The document requests information about NS Power's procedures for managing parts delivery during planned outages, including whether parts will be pre-purchased and whether delays in delivery can be managed without extending outage times.

Request IR-68: - a) NS Power indicates that this investment only has a 50-year life. Will this estimated life need major repair or replacement to reach 50 years, or can it be expected that the structure will go without a major repair or re...

AI summary The document contains three questions submitted to NS Power regarding the lifespan and maintenance of infrastructure and the retirement timeline of the Tufts Cove Generating Station.

- request? 1 Request IR-81: - Please provide the forecast capacity factor and utilization factor for TUC1 for each year from 2026

AI summary The request is for the forecast capacity factor and utilization factor for TUC1 for each year starting from 2026.

- up to and including 2035. - a) Given these forecast capacity and utilization factors, please describe any work NS Power has undertaken to assess opportunities to continue operation of TUC1, or shifting of load to other generating facilit...

AI summary The document requests NS Power to describe any work undertaken to assess opportunities for continuing the operation of TUC1 or shifting load to other generating facilities, without requiring the proposed capital project, up to and including 2035.

Request IR-132: - Board staff analysis of Attachment 1 reveals that the utility worked on 71 feeders, totaling 753 km. - Out of these 71 feeders, 23 feeders, totaling 215 km, maintained, or worsened, their original - ranking even after veg...

AI summary The document requests information about the cost and effectiveness of 2024 vegetation management work on 21 feeders, including why some feeders' condition scores worsened and the impact on SAIDI and SAIDFI metrics.

Appendix F Path to 2030 Update pages 648 to 702 - Request IR-163: - The Path to 2030 Appendix F provides the projected retirement dates for some of NS Power's - generating assets with projects listed in this appendix for projects less than...

AI summary This document requests clarification on the retirement or conversion plans for NS Power's Trenton generating station units (Trenton 5 and Trenton 6) in 2027 and 2029, respectively, as well as the value for money of these decisions.

Request IR-176: - Page 679, NS Power states "Upon receiving direction from the Province that procurement of fast- acting generation would be led by the IESO Nova Scotia, NS Power worked to consolidate and transfer all relevant project mate...

AI summary NS Power transferred employees to the IESO Nova Scotia to support the procurement of fast-acting generation. The Board is seeking confirmation on the number of employees transferred and their roles, as well as whether this transfer has affected NS Power's advisory role and support to IESO Nova Scotia.

Request IR-177: - On page 680, NS Power states "NS Power anticipates that clear direction on project timelines will be available in 2026, following completion of the IESO Nova Scotia-led RFP. If it is evident following this RFP that the cu...

AI summary NS Power anticipates clear project timelines to be available in 2026 following an RFP led by IESO Nova Scotia. If the timeline is unachievable, alternatives such as adjusting unit retirement dates or converting coal facilities to alternative fuels may be considered, requiring approval from both federal and Nova Scotia governments.

Request IR-181: - NS Power states "The lead time for combustion turbines, a key component to the Path to 2030, - has increased over the last 12 months. Greater clarity on the timelines for combustion turbines - will be available in 2026 fo...

AI summary NS Power mentions that the lead time for combustion turbines has increased over the last 12 months and that clarity on timelines will be available in 2026 following an RFP led by IESO Nova Scotia. Questions are asked about the anticipated lead time twelve months ago and the magnitude of the increase.

s amount to what was forecast for 2025 in Attachment 1 of Appendix G of the 2025 ACE Plan. 2. Please describe the reasons for any significant differences between actual spending and forecast spending. Page 632: What are the forecast dates...

AI summary The document includes questions about spending discrepancies, forecast dates for turbine and generator refurbishments, the pause in Mersey redevelopment, and fish passage requirements under the Fisheries Act. It also references the Mersey NPV analysis based on MHS production data.

o 2030 Update on page 683, the retirement date for Lingan 2 is 2027. According to Exhibit N-7, page 655 in matter M12415, Lingan 2 will be retired on 12-2029. What is the retirement date for Lingan 2? 1. Appendix F describes Lingan 2 as be...

AI summary The document presents a series of questions regarding the retirement date of Lingan 2 and Point Aconi, their status in cold reserve, sustaining investments, costs associated with switching from cold reserve to full operations, and estimated emissions costs under the Output Based Pricing System (OBPS) for 2026.

1 Request IR-6: 2 3 With respect to Section 6.0: 4 5 (a) Please provide the number of hours of cumulative service and years of service for LM6000 6 Unit 191-253, identifying how many of those hours and years were accumulated before NS 7 Po...

AI summary Request IR-6 asks Nova Scotia Power Inc. to provide details on the service history, expected lifetime, and future plans for LM6000 Unit 253, including refurbishment or replacement decisions and supporting documentation.

Other Issues In his report, Mr. Wilson also addresses various other issues, but does not make any particular recommendations. These issues include: - Path to 2030: Mr. Wilson states that the updated Path to 2030 Report does not provide con...

AI summary Mr. Wilson raises concerns about NS Power's progress toward 2030 milestones, particularly regarding the Synchronous Condenser project's increased costs and lack of stakeholder consultation. He also highlights the need for NS Power to address potential customer costs related to the Mersey Hydro project. The Consumer Advocate supports these concerns.

4.2.1 New Reliability Metrics [155] As directed in paragraph 208 of the 2025 ACE Plan Decision, the Board asked NS Power to provide an update on its evaluation of potential new reliability and resiliency metrics in the 2026 ACE Plan. NS Po...

AI summary The Board requested an update from NS Power on new reliability and resiliency metrics for the 2026 ACE Plan. NS Power provided progress on collaboration with CEATI, including a Grid Resiliency Workshop and updates on the Resiliency Index Framework and Roadmap. CEATI has not finalized the Terms of Reference for the Grid Resiliency Working Group but continues to incorporate member feedback.

hould require enhanced justification where a Routine experiences significant year-over-year expenditure growth or materially evolves in its work categories, standards, objectives or system capability. - 8. Upon identifying a change to proj...

AI summary The text outlines procedures for NS Power to notify the Board of significant project changes and budget increases, and emphasizes coordination with the IESO Nova Scotia regarding the 2027 ACE Plan. It also highlights the need for enhanced justification for expenditure growth and changes in project scope.

NS POWER PANEL 423 Questions, (Murphy) 1 to rely on that fast-acting generation that would be 2 supported by the Burnside units. So that's been 3 demonstrated in our previous IRPs as well, as I mentioned, 4 the 10-year system outlook to su...

AI summary The discussion centers on the continued operation of diesel combustion turbines (CTs) in support of wind integration, referencing past Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) and the Clean Power Plan. The speaker expresses confidence that these CTs will remain necessary for system reliability and fast-acting response, even as coal is phased out.

NS POWER PANEL 535 Questions, (Chair) 1 Q. Okay. And you've provided 2 updates on these two projects in the appendix and in IR 3 responses. 4 My question, and it's the same 5 question I've asked in different forums in a number of ACE 6 Pla...

AI summary The chair of the NS Power Panel 535 asks whether other energy projects, such as wind, community solar, and commercial net metering, must be in place before coal conversions can safely proceed by 2030. Pickles responds that while the goal is to be off coal by 2030, the company intends to retain the ability to burn coal if necessary.