Topic:"Demand Side Management" in M12854

OBJECTIVES The objectives of IESO Nova Scotia's first IRP are: - Develop a robust long-term electricity system plan that is reliable, sustainable, and cost-effective covering the next 20 to 30 years; - Evaluate the range of energy resource...

AI summary IESO Nova Scotia's first IRP aims to create a 20-30 year reliable, sustainable, and cost-effective electricity plan, evaluate energy resources (including non-electric options like hybrid heating systems), identify near-term procurement needs, assess capital investments, and align with provincial sustainability and emissions reduction goals under the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act.

OBJECTIVES The objectives of IESO Nova Scotia's first IRP are: - Develop a robust long-term electricity system plan that is reliable, sustainable, and cost-effective covering the next 20 to 30 years; - Evaluate the range of energy resource...

AI summary The objectives of IESO Nova Scotia's first Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) include developing a long-term, reliable, and cost-effective electricity system, evaluating energy resources (including non-electric options), identifying procurement needs, supporting sustainability goals, and calculating avoided costs for demand-side management.

KEY QUESTIONS In the NSEB's order for IESO Nova Scotia's Approval of its Proposed Expenditure and Revenue Requirement for the Test Year Ending March 31, 2026 (M12412), the following direction was provided for this IRP: "IESO Nova Scotia is...

AI summary The Nova Scotia Energy Board (NSEB) directed IESO Nova Scotia to address specific issues in its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), including cost analysis for new supply-side resources, regional system modeling, ELCC portfolio updates, demand response scenarios, and emissions linkage. Additional key questions focus on decarbonization targets, offshore wind opportunities, and Mersey Hydro redevelopment.

The term "sustainable" is used throughout the ToR, including in two separate IRP objectives. We understand that the term is used in section 2(e) of the More Access to Energy Act, but the ToR would benefit from a definition of the term, giv...

AI summary The document discusses the need for clearer definitions of terms like 'sustainable' and 'integrated electricity system' in the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). It also raises concerns about the placement of an objective related to updating avoided cost calculations for demand-side resources, suggesting it should be moved or rephrased to align with statutory requirements under the More Access to Energy Act.

EAST COAST ENVIRONMENTAL LAW these categories or, at minimum, consider reductions to their weights in the evaluation process. Expand the scope to include exploring ways to model demand side management (DSM) as a resource, rather than narro...

AI summary The document discusses the need to expand the scope of demand-side management (DSM) modeling as a resource in the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). It suggests that DSM should be treated as a first-order resource and that varying levels of DSM should be considered in the IRP process. IESO Nova Scotia acknowledges the recommendation but notes challenges with the timeline for the 2026 IRP.

INDUSTRIAL GROUP Question/Comment Response NPV metrics influence decisions. Question/Comment Response The ToR IESO Nova Scotia generally agrees with points 1, 3 and 4. For should require that the DR capacity values used in the point 2 it a...

AI summary The Industrial Group discusses the importance of NPV metrics in decision-making and highlights the need for the Terms of Reference (ToR) to require that DR capacity values in the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) reflect effective capacity at design-day conditions and net capacity after snapback, considering the impact on system load profiles.

NRSTOR Question/Comment Response To support alignment with provincial objectives including the 2030 Clean Power Plan, NRStor recommends examining avoiding costs from a Societal Cost Test (SCT) in addition to a Program Administrative Cost T...

AI summary NRStor recommends examining a Societal Cost Test (SCT) to align with provincial objectives like the 2030 Clean Power Plan, emphasizing avoided costs beyond least cost, including GHG emissions. The IESO-NS clarifies that avoided costs are specific to energy and capacity modelling in the IRP and are not applicable for DSM cost effectiveness testing.

SYNAPSE Question/Comment Response 2. The Effective Load Carrying Capacity (ELCC) study – led jointly by IESO Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia Power 3. Hybrid-heating study - led by Net- Zero Atlantic 4. DSM Potential Study – led by EfficiencyOn...

AI summary The document outlines several studies being conducted, including the Effective Load Carrying Capacity (ELCC) study led by IESO Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia Power, a hybrid-heating study led by Net-Zero Atlantic, and a DSM Potential Study led by EfficiencyOne. It also suggests increasing stakeholder involvement in scenario selection for the ELCC study.

Questions and Comments - 1. Please confirm whether NS Power or the IESO will be providing updated avoided transmission - & distribution (T&D) costs and whether this will be developed as part of the IRP process? - 2. The IRP study period is...

AI summary Questions focus on the 2026 IRP process, including T&D cost updates, NPV evaluation criteria, DSM modeling expansion, and alignment with 2030 decarbonization targets. E1 recommends treating DSM as a first-order resource and incorporating intermediate DSM levels in the IRP.

Overall support I support IESO Nova Scotia's effort to establish an independent, transparent IRP process, and I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the Terms of Reference. For context, my background is in utility-managed EV charging p...

AI summary The commenter supports IESO Nova Scotia's independent, transparent IRP process and emphasizes the need to incorporate real-world demand-side resource behavior into the planning framework, based on their expertise in utility-managed EV charging programs and load flexibility coordination.

Capacity value of demand response resources Demand response can displace supply at peak, but its capacity value is often overstated when planning models rely on enrolled/nameplate capability without accounting for operational constraints....

AI summary Demand response (DR) capacity is often overstated in planning models that ignore operational constraints. The ToR should require IRP to use effective capacity metrics, including design-day conditions, net capacity post-snapback, availability rates, and duration limits. Overestimating DR as firm capacity risks misjudging supply-side needs, as highlighted by Dunsky's emphasis on plan robustness.

Sensitivity on winter stress events and DR availability DR performance is highly sensitive to the same conditions that create system stress, so the IRP should test this explicitly. Based on Dunsky's April 17 clarification, key stress varia...

AI summary The document emphasizes the need to explicitly model Demand Response (DR) availability during winter stress events in Nova Scotia's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). It argues that DR performance degrades under cold conditions, increasing reliability risks, and cites the 2022 Winter Storm Elliott analysis as evidence. A sensitivity analysis for sustained cold events (e.g., -15°C) is recommended to align with resource adequacy assessments.

IRP scorecard: treatment of demand-side resources I support the move beyond pure least-cost optimization. The multi-criteria scorecard (Least Cost 70%, GHG Reduction 10%, Technology Risk 10%, Economic Growth 10%) is a meaningful improvemen...

AI summary The text supports a multi-criteria IRP scorecard (70% least cost, 10% GHG reduction, 10% technology risk, 10% economic growth) as an improvement over the 2020 IRP. It argues that the technology risk metric fails to reward proven demand-side resources over speculative supply-side ones (e.g., SMRs) and that economic growth metrics exclude local DR program jobs. Recommendations include adjusting technology risk scoring and expanding job-count methodologies.

o Demand-Side and Non-Wires : - NRStor welcomes the IESO-NS's proposed approach to better assess energy efficiency and non-wires solutions alongside supply-side resources, including working with E1 and the Demand Side Management Advisory G...

AI summary NRStor supports the IESO-NS's approach to evaluate energy efficiency and non-wires solutions alongside supply-side resources, emphasizing collaboration with E1 and the Demand Side Management Advisory Group. NRStor also highlights updated costing data on grid-scale and residential storage to inform non-wires strategies and infrastructure deferral.

RE: Written Feedback on 2026 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Draft Terms of Reference (ToR) Please see below Solar Nova Scotia (SNS)'s written feedback on the draft Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 2026 IESO-NS Integrated Resource Plan (IRP...

AI summary Solar Nova Scotia (SNS) requests transparency in stakeholder feedback during the 2026 IESO-NS IRP process and recommends explicitly defining 'energy resources' in the ToR using the More Access to Energy Act (MAEA) definition, which includes demand-side management, storage, and other resources.

e we noted during the April 17th session the potential value in having an in-person session for at least one of these meetings, on reflection we do not think it is critical to convene an inperson TWG. Releasing all pre-IRP studies with ade...

AI summary Synapse supports the NS IESO's Terms of Reference for the 2026 IRP, emphasizing the need for timely release of pre-IRP studies, robust regional modeling, and demand-side management considerations. They suggest minor timeline adjustments for the ToR.