Topic:"Energy Efficiency Budgets" in M11927

CI 50518 CA IR-5 Attachment 19 Page 174 of 423 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) 3 # Indicators Condition Choices Data Definitions/Explanations Protection and off road vehicles appear to effectively exclude or divert visitors and...

AI summary The text outlines various indicators and condition choices related to environmental protection, consumptive uses, domestic wells, and calcareous fen within a specific area. It includes data on wildlife disturbance, sustainable consumptive uses, proximity of domestic wells, and calcareous fen identification.

4.4 SOURCE BIBLIOGRAPHY The recipient of these data shall acknowledge the AC CDC and the data sources listed below in any documents, reports, publications or presentations, in which this dataset makes a significant contribution.

AI summary The document outlines the requirement for acknowledging the Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre (AC CDC) and the data sources in any publications or reports where the dataset makes a significant contribution.

REDACTED 1 (b) Please refer to CA IR-13, part (c). 2 3 (c) In the original submission KMKNO Capacity Payments were budgeted and added to the 4 "Consulting" cost code in the amount of $ instead of a dedicated "Mi'kmaq 5 Engagement" cost cod...

AI summary The document discusses the budgeting of KMKNO Capacity Payments under the 'Consulting' cost code rather than a dedicated 'Mi'kmaq Engagement' code. It also addresses archaeological costs for the Ruth Falls Project and legislative requirements for the sale of hydro assets, including approvals from the Public Utilities Act and federal legislation.

REDACTED 1 (d) The revised costs associated with archaeological assessment are a result of ongoing 10 11 (b) Please confirm that Consulting Services for the project were procured using a 12 competitive RFP/tender process. 13 14 (i) If not...

AI summary The text requests clarifications on cost discrepancies and procurement processes related to a project, including competitive RFP/tender processes, cost breakdowns, and the omission of certain costs in the 2019 ACE Plan Application.

The Bank of Nova Scotia Trade Services Centre 4th Floor, 1 St. Clair Avenue East Toronto, Ontario M4T 1Z3 Tel: 1-888-722-3867 Fax: 416-866-4286 SWIFT: NOSCCATTTPG Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit No.: OSB62460GWS Beneficiary: Receiver...

AI summary This document outlines an irrevocable standby letter of credit issued by the Bank of Nova Scotia on behalf of Nova Scotia Power Incorporated to Fisheries and Oceans Canada. It guarantees payment of CAD62,000 for the completion of capital projects on the Sheet Harbour Hydro System and Sloane Lake in 2020.

CI 50518 NSUARB IR-12 Attachment 4 Page 9 of 57 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) Ruth Falls Dam Refurbishment S 35(2)(b) Fisheries Act Authorization Supporting Information #1 Monitoring Activities personnel. The system will be m...

AI summary The document outlines NS Power's plan for water management during the Ruth Falls Dam refurbishment, including continuous downstream discharge to maintain fish passage and comply with regulatory requirements. The proposed system has been used successfully by the Halifax Regional Municipality, and NS Power intends to seek a variance from ECC for modifications to flow releases.

CI 50518 NSUARB IR-12 Attachment 10 Page 530 of 591 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) Estimated cost: Based on our 2016-2018 project in this area, we would estimate the total cost of completing this work to be approx. $125,000 +...

AI summary The text outlines estimated costs for a habitat restoration project, including contractor fees, consultant costs, and NSSA coordination expenses. It also provides the site location and mentions the involvement of local Mi'kmaw community members in monitoring.

The Bank of Nova Scotia Trade Services Centre 4th Floor, 1 St. Clair Avenue East Toronto, Ontario M4T 1Z3 Tel: 1-888-722-3867 Fax: 416-866-4286 SWIFT: NOSCCATTTPG Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit No.: OSB62460GWS Beneficiary: Receiver...

AI summary This document outlines an irrevocable standby letter of credit issued by The Bank of Nova Scotia on behalf of Nova Scotia Power Incorporated, benefiting Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The letter of credit is for CAD 62,000 and is used to ensure payment for capital projects on the Sheet Harbour Hydro System and Sloane Lake in 2020.

Table 19: 2019 ACE Application Costs – Consulting[64](#page-40-2) Description Total Estimate ($) Design $142,281 RFP Support $6,000 Construction Support $17,500 Environmental $4,780 KMKNO Capacity Payments XXXXXXX TOTAL: XXXXXXXX Table 20:...

AI summary The text presents two tables detailing the estimated consulting costs for the 2019 Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Application and the ATO Application. The tables include line items such as design, environmental studies, and monitoring activities. The ACE table includes a total estimate of XXXXXXXX, while the ATO table has a total estimate of $1,877,234.

DUE DILIGENCE - Experience with the due diligence analysis of a variety of renewable resource projects, including the evaluation and modeling of the revenues and costs associated with mid-life energy projects. - Evaluation of site visit ma...

AI summary The text outlines experience in due diligence for renewable energy projects, including hydroelectric and other mid-life energy projects. It highlights participation in evaluations for clients in Canada, Zambia, and the USA, focusing on technical, economic, and contractual aspects.

CI 50518 – HYD Ruth Falls Main Dam Refurbishment - $15,445,508 (ATO) (NSUARB M10632) Midgard Consulting Inc. Responses to Industrial Group Information Requests 1 Request IR-1: 6 Preamble: At the beginning of Midgard's report, it lists the...

AI summary The text discusses a request for information regarding scope changes in the Ruth Falls Main Dam Refurbishment project as noted in Midgard Consulting Inc.'s report. It asks for a table detailing scope changes compared to the original 2019 ACE proceeding, clarification on which changes were not related to DFO requirements, and whether cost increases due to scope changes would be considered reasonable if NSPI knew an FAA would be required.

NON-CONFIDENTIAL - a) As stated in the quoted passage, Midgard has not made any assumptions regarding how much of the - b) See IR Response 14(b). Response IR-15: - c) Yes. Regardless of whether the costs were incurred in responding to DFO...

AI summary Midgard acknowledges that the $4.4 million in cost overages is attributed to interactions with DFO or NSECC, primarily due to delays caused by DFO requirements. These delays were exacerbated by NS Power's inability to provide finalized design drawings and contractor documentation, resulting from shifting project designs and schedules.

CI 50518 – HYD – Ruth Falls Main Dam Refurbishment ATO – Reply Evidence Redacted 1 previous archaeology completed on the Sheet Harbour Hydro System, a low density of submerged 2 archaeological sites were identified. 3 4 The Wright's Dam Re...

AI summary The document discusses the archaeological costs associated with the Ruth Falls Main Dam Refurbishment ATO, noting that these costs were necessary to put the asset into service and were not unreasonable. It highlights collaboration with the Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia and lessons learned from previous projects.

REDACTED Crystal Henwood Clerk of the Board Nova Scotia Energy Board 1601 Lower Water Street, 3rd Floor Halifax, NS B3J 3S3 Re: M11927 Nova Scotia Power Inc. - CI 50518 – HYD Ruth Falls Main Dam Refurbishment – $15,445,508 (ATO) Compliance...

AI summary NS Power received the Fisheries Act Authorization for the Ruth Falls Main Dam Refurbishment project and has prepared a Net Present Value analysis comparing refurbishment to decommissioning options. The Company plans to file an amended application once the authorization is obtained.

1.1 Project Background [5] In 2015, NS Power engaged Kleinschmidt as a consultant to assess the design adequacy of NS Power's Sheet Harbour Hydro System's water retaining structures. The assessment evaluated the structures' stability under...

AI summary In 2015, NS Power commissioned Kleinschmidt to assess the Sheet Harbour Hydro System's water retaining structures, which led to a 2019 ACE Plan approval for a project addressing deficiencies in the Ruth Falls Dam. The current ATO application requests an increase from the originally approved amount due to increased environmental permitting, extended timelines, and archaeology and Mi'kmaq engagement costs.

3.2 Preferred Refurbishment Option [65] In approving NS Power's 2019 ACE Plan, the Board agreed with NS Power that Option 4 was the preferred and most economic refurbishment alternative for the project. As noted above, NS Power's CEJC expl...

AI summary The Board approved NS Power's 2019 ACE Plan, finding that Option 4 remains the preferred refurbishment option. NS Power did not update its economic analysis due to expected uniform cost increases from FAA and extended timelines, and no other parties challenged this reasoning.

s and external stakeholders. While the Board is encouraged by these efforts, it acknowledges that the Utility has little control over the actions and requirements of those regulators and stakeholders. [69] Additionally, NS Power has alloca...

AI summary NS Power has allocated $500,000 for habitat offsetting costs based on a rate suggested by DFO, but not its own higher estimate. The project faces potential cost increases if the higher rate or larger offset area is required. The FAA status remains unclear, with further consultation needed with the Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia, leaving the project exposed to cost escalations.

10 Request IR-23: 11 Reference: N-9, page 44 lines 8-14. With respect to the Mi'kmaq observer costs, as noted in Section 4.1 above Midgard considers that NS Power could have known at the time of its ACE submission that its archaeological c...

AI summary Midgard concludes that the increased Mi'kmaw engagement costs associated with NSPI's ACE submission are reasonable. The question focuses on whether NSPI should have known these costs would be higher and the basis for Midgard's assumption, particularly in relation to the Fisheries Act amendments and archaeological costs.

ne 2024, NSPI's Reply evidence indicates it only submitted the package to the DFO on February 28, 2025. 13 It is unclear why there was an eight month delay in responding to DFO's directions. Given the growing concerns, and age of the hydro...

AI summary The document states that NSPI has not provided sufficient evidence to justify the Ruth Falls refurbishment project, which has seen significant cost increases and is only 10% complete six years after approval. Concerns are raised about the economic justification and the need for more data.

CONCLUSION NS Power submits that the three-part test for ATO's has been met, as follows: 1. Were the utility's decisions reasonable in the context of information which was known (or should have been known) at the time? NS Power's decision...

AI summary NS Power argues that its decision to proceed with the Ruth Falls project was reasonable, prudent, and based on available information at the time, despite higher-than-expected archaeology costs. The company emphasizes that the project was necessary for dam safety and remains the lowest-cost solution for customers.

ro capital refurbishment projects that included an extended drawdown. [36] In response to Midgard's evidence related to further potential cost increases for the project, NS Power noted the following: - The revised habitat offsetting plan a...

AI summary NS Power responded to Midgard's concerns about potential cost increases for the project, noting alignment with DFO guidance, engagement with Mi'kmaq communities, and the submission of an archaeological plan. NS Power also addressed decommissioning considerations, referencing a 2018 Hydro Asset Study detailing decommissioning costs.

3.4 Decommissioning Cost [74] When the Ruth Falls project was included in the 2019 ACE Plan, NS Power had two choices to address safety concerns arising from the related dam safety review: either decommission the dam or refurbish it. At th...

AI summary The Ruth Falls project's decommissioning cost was not chosen in 2019 due to higher costs compared to refurbishment. The refurbishment extends the dam's life by 50 years and maintains 7.2 MW of renewable power. However, ongoing capital investments and operating expenses are required. The document suggests that if decommissioning and procuring alternative power proved more cost-effective, it would have been in ratepayers' best interest.

- has an NPV that is approximately $50.4 M greater than the decommissioning alternative: Alternative After Tax WACC PV of Revenue Requirement PV of EVA / NPV Rank (based on PV of RR) IRR Disc Pay Α Dam Refurbishment 5.81% -21,926,086 12,51...

AI summary The text presents a comparison of two alternatives—Dam Refurbishment and Partial Decommissioning—based on financial metrics such as NPV, IRR, and discount payback period. The Dam Refurbishment alternative has a significantly higher NPV compared to the decommissioning option, which is highlighted as a key consideration in the analysis.

REDACTED Ruth Falls Main Dam Refurbishment Contingency Report 3 Appendix A Page 1 of 1 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) Account NSEB Approved Amount Spend-to-Date Contingency/ Unbudgeted Spend-to-Date Comments Sponsor/Other Dona...

AI summary The document outlines contingency and unbudgeted spending related to the Ruth Falls Main Dam Refurbishment project, including adjustments for incorrect cost code applications, additional meal costs for community engagement and fish rescue operations, and increased Mi'kmaq engagement expenses.