Topic:"Capital Expenditures" in M06733

f the electric grid. These include, though are not limited to, reduced capacity reserve margins, reduced line losses, and a deferral of investments in power transmission, distribution, and generation. 12 The Nova Scotia General Assembly ha...

AI summary The text argues that Demand-Side Management (DSM) reduces grid costs by lowering capacity reserves, line losses, and deferring infrastructure investments. It cites Nova Scotia legislation mandating NSPI to procure energy efficiency for cost reduction and references studies supporting DSM's cost-effectiveness. The analysis uses Navigant’s EL-RAM model, emphasizing long-term benefits of DSM investments.

NON-CONFIDENTIAL 1 Request IR-12: 2 3 Reference: 2016-2018 DSM Plan NS Power Evidence 4 - 5 Please provide annual spending by the largest categories of expenditures by NSPI since - 6 2011 and the absolute and percentage increase in them si...

AI summary The document contains a request (IR-12) for NSPI to provide annual spending data by category (fuel, salaries, capital expenditures, etc.) since 2011, with details on absolute and percentage increases.

17 CI# Project Title 2010 ACE Plan Budget ($) Total Budget ($) Ranking Category Transmissi on Capital Items Included in 2010 ACE Plan 33504 Upgrade 69 kV Circuit to Pleasant Street L5536 $1,449,970 $1,449,970 Overloaded Equipment 25391 25k...

AI summary The text presents a table of capital items included in the 2010 ACE Plan, detailing projects such as upgrading a 69 kV circuit and extending a 25 kV feeder, with associated budgets and rankings based on equipment overload.

NON-CONFIDENTIAL CI# Project Title 2011 ACE Plan Budget ($) Total Budget ($) Ranking Category Transmissi on Capital Items Included in 2011 ACE Plan New Prospect Road Substation (Note: resubmitted in 2012 ACE) $3,068,581 $3,068,581 Overload...

AI summary The document outlines capital items included in the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board's Annual Capital Expenditure (ACE) Plans from 2011 to 2013, detailing project titles, budgets, and ranking categories such as 'Overloaded Equipment' and 'Load Growth'.

NON-CONFIDENTIAL Distribution Capital Items Included in 2013 ACE Plan 43286 43286 6S Terrace Street Conversion Phase 1 $743,269 $743,269 Load Growth 43548 533S Mason Street Conversion $449,764 $449,764 Load Growth CI# Project Title 2014 AC...

AI summary The text provides a detailed breakdown of capital projects included in various Annual Capital Expenditure (ACE) Plans from 2013 to 2015, highlighting project titles, budgets, and ranking categories such as Load Growth and Overloaded Equipment.

2016-2018 DSM Plan (NSUARB M06733) NSPI Responses to Consumer Advocate Information Requests 1 Request IR-18: 2 3 Regarding the 2015 Annual Capital Expenditure Plan filing: 4 5 (a) Please explain the difference between the New Customer proj...

AI summary The document discusses a request by the Consumer Advocate for explanations regarding the 2015 Annual Capital Expenditure Plan filing, focusing on differences between New Customer projects and upgrades, cost implications of lower loads, and the basis for estimating New Customer Upgrades. NSPI provides detailed responses explaining the nature of these projects and their cost factors.

1 Request IR-5: 9 FAM). No amounts for future commitments are included in the fuel expense as fuel is 10 expensed as consumed. NS Power makes application to the UARB for approval for 11 capital expenditures and they are included in rate ba...

AI summary NS Power explains that fuel and capital expenditures are expensed as consumed and included in the rate base upon meeting accounting asset definitions. Future commitments are not recovered in advance, and costs are included in revenue requirement once incurred. NS Power follows GAAP for accruing future obligations and references Section 9 of its Evidence for further details on E1 costs.

3.5.3 Affordability - [76] Having determined the parameters of a preferred plan, the Board is specifically directed by the 2014 amendments to the PUA to address the issue of affordability. The most relevant sections are Section 79L(8) and...

AI summary The Board must assess affordability of electricity efficiency programs under PUA amendments (Sections 79L(8)-(9)), shifting from traditional lowest long-term cost criteria. Affordability has long been relevant in rate shock discussions and capital expenditure reviews, with Section 79L(9) explicitly requiring affordability evaluation. The Industrial Group emphasizes affordability in its post-hearing submission.

tility and Review Board - June 2, 2015, pp 28 and 30-32. 3 Direct Evidence of Elizabeth Chant Vermont Energy Investment Corporation On Behalf of Ecology Action Centre - June 2, 2015, p 14. electrical bills as do other ratepayers. It is a f...

AI summary The text argues that low-income renters in Nova Scotia are excluded from the HomeWarming program and must rely on EfficiencyOne's services funded by NS Power. It emphasizes the need for increased DSM investment beyond the Settlement Agreement's recommended levels to ensure equitable access to efficiency programs, citing concerns about funding adequacy and barriers faced by low-income households.

ying principle in the legislation which 41 Transcript, June 16, 2015, pp.370-371. 42 Exhibit E-1, Application, pp.61-63. 43 Exhibit E-1, Application, Figure 5.1, p.60. 44 Exhibit E-23, E1(IG) IR-8. 45 Exhibit E-1, Application, p.60, line 1...

AI summary The text discusses concerns about EfficiencyOne's (E1) proposed operational flexibility and its potential impact on customer rates, particularly for the Large Industrial Group. A $600,000 budget increase could lead to a 70% rise in DSM rates, yet E1 did not model the effects of reallocating 25% of a $50 million budget across sectors. Cross-examination revealed E1 acknowledged obligations to manage programs within spending envelopes but provided no concrete commitments.

THE LIMIT OF ACCEPTABLE COMPROMISE The initial proposed investment levels offered by each of the parties to the Supply Agreement are too low to maximize benefits of DSM to the Province. Even E1's starting proposal would mean a huge diverge...

AI summary The initial investment levels in the Supply Agreement are deemed insufficient for maximizing DSM benefits. EAC supports a Settlement Agreement as a minimum investment to balance affordability and long-term savings, though it diverges from IRP guidance. Nova Scotia Power's alternate plan is criticized for disproportionately cutting efficiency programs, harming underserved communities.

3.6 Performance Targets, Indicators, and Thresholds [108] El proposed that the performance targets be cumulative annual energy and peak demand savings at the end of the three year period at the portfolio level and the performance indicator...

AI summary El proposes cumulative energy and peak demand savings targets over three years, with annual reporting on incremental and lifetime savings. The threshold is 90% of targets, confirmed at 405.9 GWh and 62.5 MW. The Board reduced DSM expenditures, potentially impacting targets. El will also report on ratepayer benefits and customer satisfaction, though not as performance indicators.

2) DSM INVESTMENT LEVEL - a) The parties support a reduction in investment level for DSM activities over the 2016-2018 contract period from the proposed 5121.5 million to $113.5 million as follows: - I) $36.9 million in 2016 - ii) $37.8 mi...

AI summary The parties support reducing DSM investment from 5121.5 million to 113.5 million over 2016-2018, with allocations of 36.9 million in 2016, 37.8 million in 2017, and 538,8 million in 2018.

igorous program for determining incentives, which should be filed with the UARB by March 31, 2016. - In future application, EfficiencyOne is to provide one or more alternate scenarios of DSM budgets for the UARB to consider, and NSPI is to...

AI summary The consensus agreement outlines requirements for EfficiencyOne to submit an incentive program to UARB by March 31, 2016, and NSPI's role in rate impact analysis. The DOE raised concerns about deferring DSM costs under the Public Utilities Act, while UARB questioned the high financing cost (7.78%) for deferred costs and urged exploring cheaper alternatives.

ember 13, 2015 In its decision in this matter, the Board recognized the concerns raised by various stakeholders and directed EfficiencyOne to explore more cost effective avenues to finance deferrals: [91] The DOE raised the issue of deferr...

AI summary The Board directed EfficiencyOne to explore cheaper financing options for DSM deferrals, noting the high cost of NSPI's rate base (7.78%) compared to bank financing (3%). EfficiencyOne engaged Grant Thornton to research financing methods, with results due by November 16, 2015. The Board emphasized the need for cost-effective solutions, while EfficiencyOne highlighted potential external financing with NS Power's backstopping.

nt was in the review and execution process within NSPI. NSPI has not yet confirmed it has executed the Agreement, nor has it expressed any concerns or requested any further revisions to the Agreement. Grant Thornton has prepared a formal f...

AI summary NSPI has not confirmed execution of an agreement with EfficiencyOne. Grant Thornton submitted a financing package to seven lenders, responding to inquiries until February 12, 2016, with EfficiencyOne aiming to secure financing by March 31. A contract between EfficiencyOne and NSPI is required by lenders. The Breton Law Group and Board Counsel M06733 are involved.