Topic:"Equity Access" in M06733

Approach Few regions have adopted a formal and publically available set of principles to guide their DSM plans. This is partly the result of the complexity of DSM itself which, for reasons we will explain below, does not lend itself well t...

AI summary The document outlines the complexity of Demand Side Management (DSM) and identifies four guiding principles for DSM plans: maximizing energy savings, optimizing net benefits, minimizing risk, and ensuring equitable access. It emphasizes balancing these goals with trade-offs and the need for diverse portfolios and sustained market presence.

Consideration #4: MAXIMIZE EQUITY ( QUITY E(SOCIAL LICENSE SOCIAL LICENSE LICENSE) Businesses must generally obtain a "social license" – general acceptance of, and support from, the communities in which they operate. In the case of DSM, to...

AI summary Maximizing equity in DSM programs requires ensuring broad access, particularly for low-income customers, multifamily buildings, and small businesses facing barriers like split incentives. Special programs and higher Program Administrator costs may be needed, though this can reduce net benefits. Equity-focused design should balance access with rate impacts.

SUMMARY SUMMARY& CONCLUSION & CONCLUSION The business of "selling" Demand-Side Management is not fundamentally different from most business ventures: when taking a long-term perspective, strategic planning involves balancing multiple objec...

AI summary Efficiency Nova Scotia (ENS) must balance multiple objectives in its Demand-Side Management (DSM) strategy, including maximizing short-term and long-term savings, minimizing costs, ensuring value, managing risks, preserving relationships, and ensuring broad access. A balanced approach is emphasized to achieve long-term success in DSM portfolio development.

- Levelized Costs : Given our recommendations to report on both spending and lifetime savings, reporting on levelized cost (¢/kWh, i.e. the ratio of the former over the latter) would add no value. - Market Transformation : Although market...

AI summary The document discusses DSM program metrics, emphasizing that levelized cost reporting adds no value, market transformation is hard to measure, and equity concerns are addressed by existing mechanisms. It highlights debates over deep vs. broad savings, geographic and low-income equity, and the exclusion of job creation from ENS' mandate.

Measures include: - Efficient lighting measures - Occupancy sensors and lighting controls - Ductless mini split heat pumps - Electronically commutated motors (ECMs) - Outside air economizers - Hot water heat pumps - Hot water tank wraps -...

AI summary The document outlines energy efficiency measures, evaluation methods, and recommendations for the Business Energy Solutions (BES) program. It highlights savings verification findings, including nine recommendations for BES and addressing barriers to participation. The evaluation involved site visits, surveys, and categorization of savings, with endorsement of all nine recommendations.

une 30, 2016. This will allow sufficient time to deal with any such matters prior to the submission of the next DSM Plan. [25] For reasons that are explained later in this Decision, however, the Board does not approve the Quantum Agreement...

AI summary The Board does not approve the Quantum Agreement due to insufficient DSM spending in the public interest, despite support from multiple groups. It approves some aspects like the DSM Expenditure Justification Criteria and the Small Business Energy Study, though NSPI objects to the latter due to cost. The DOE supports equity principles and other sections of the agreements.

Equitable Remedy 9. The Recipient acknowledges that any unauthorized use of the Confidential Information or any breach of its obligations under this Agreement will result in irreparable harm to the Disclosing Party which cannot be adequate...

AI summary The Recipient acknowledges that breaches of confidentiality would cause irreparable harm to the Disclosing Party, allowing the latter to seek equitable remedies without opposition. The Recipient agrees not to oppose such relief, which remains available alongside other remedies. These provisions survive agreement termination.

Introduction The Affordable Energy Coalition urges the Board to support the Settlement Agreement signed by the Affordable Energy Coalition, EfficiencyOne, the Consumer Advocate, the Small Business Advocate and the Ecology Action Centre (Ex...

AI summary The Affordable Energy Coalition advocates for the Board's support of a Settlement Agreement, emphasizing clauses 9 ('Principles of Equity') and 2 ('DSM Investment Levels') to ensure low-income renters access efficiency services. Expert testimony from George Foote, Paul Chernick, Tim Woolf, and Elizabeth Chant supports the equity principles.

Equity and Low Income Households For reasons very well explained in Alice Napoleon's July 14, 2014 testimony for the Utility and Review Board hearing on Efficiency Nova Scotia's 2015 DSM Plan, low income programming is more expensive becau...

AI summary Alice Napoleon testified that low-income energy programs are more costly due to 100% financing but have greater impact. Statistics Canada data shows lower electricity usage in lower income quintiles. The argument emphasizes equitable access to efficiency services despite higher costs, citing Case M06247.

Page 11: Access to ENSC programs is important to ensure fairness to ratepayers who are paying for the DSM initiative. It is recognized that some groups face higher barriers to participation than others. These barriers can be of a financial...

AI summary The document emphasizes the importance of ENSC program access for ratepayer fairness, noting barriers faced by some groups. NS Power's proposal to reduce Residential program spending would decrease energy efficiency services for low-income homeowners and renters.

Page 32: - 1 necessary to consider issues that are more difficult to quantify but are important 2 nonetheless. For example, it is important to consider customer equity impacts and best 3 practices in program design. - 4 Q. How should custo...

AI summary The text emphasizes the importance of customer equity in DSM program design, arguing that NSPI's alternative plan excludes cost-effective measures, disproportionately affecting low-income and small business customers. Broader participation is advocated to ensure equitable access to efficiency programs, while NSPI's cost-focused approach is criticized as inequitable.

Page 14: Programming at the minimal cost per MWh suggested by NSPI would require little or no service to hard-to-reach sectors. Those who have been underserved would likely become unserved, resulting in a difficult situation for low income...

AI summary NSPI's proposal to implement programming at minimal cost per MWh risks leaving hard-to-reach sectors, including low-income households and renters, without service. This would disproportionately impact residential ratepayers who fund such programs, raising equity concerns.

Consensus Settlement Agreement and Terms of Consensus Agreement 47. The Province supports some aspects of the terms of Consensus Agreement but does not agree with the DSM investment level and performance targets. The Province notes that in...

AI summary The Province supports aspects of the Consensus Agreement but disagrees with DSM investment levels and performance targets. Other topics for discussion include standardized filing, rate impact analysis, DSM expenditure criteria, and cost-effectiveness testing. The Province supports mid-course adjustments, flexibility for E1, and the Principles of Equity and Performance Targets.

1 Distinction between regulatory perspective and political perspective The Province refers to the recent public consultation process during which it heard from the public that ratepayers were concerned about rates and that supported the co...

AI summary The Province highlights public concerns about ratepayer affordability of the EfficiencyOne DSM program, while the Board emphasizes regulatory criteria (affordability, reasonableness, ratepayer interests) for assessing the program. The political perspective may prioritize avoiding rate increases regardless of regulatory standards.

une 30, 2016. This will allow sufficient time to deal with any such matters prior to the submission of the next DSM Plan. [25] For reasons that are explained later in this Decision, however, the Board does not approve the Quantum Agreement...

AI summary The Board did not approve the Quantum Agreement due to insufficient DSM spending in the public interest, despite support from CA, SBA, EAC, and AEC. It approved aspects like the DSM Expenditure Justification Criteria and Small Business Energy Study, though NSPI objected to the latter due to cost. The DOE supported equity principles, and non-financial provisions will be addressed through the DSM Advisory Group.

Equitable Remedy 9. The Recipient acknowledges that any unauthorized use of the Confidential Information or any breach of its obligations under this Agreement will result in irreparable harm to the Disclosing Party which cannot be adequate...

AI summary The Recipient acknowledges that unauthorized use of Confidential Information would cause irreparable harm to the Disclosing Party. The Recipient agrees not to oppose interim or interlocutory equitable remedies sought by the Disclosing Party to enforce the Agreement. Such remedies are not exclusive and survive termination of the Agreement.

Equitable Remedy 9. The Recipient acknowledges that any unauthorized use of the Confidential Information or any breach of its obligations under this Agreement will result in irreparable harm to the Disclosing Party which cannot be adequate...

AI summary The section outlines provisions for equitable remedies in case of unauthorized use of confidential information. It states that breaches would cause irreparable harm, allowing the Disclosing Party to seek interim relief without opposition from the Recipient. Such remedies are not exclusive and remain enforceable post-agreement termination.

Equitable Remedy 9. The Recipient acknowledges that any unauthorized use of the Confidential Information or any breach of its obligations under this Agreement will result in irreparable harm to the Disclosing Party which cannot be adequate...

AI summary The Recipient acknowledges that unauthorized use of Confidential Information would cause irreparable harm to the Disclosing Party, allowing the latter to seek interim equitable remedies without opposition. The Recipient agrees not to oppose such applications, and the remedies are non-exclusive, surviving agreement termination.

Equitable Remedy 9. The Recipient acknowledges that any unauthorized use of the Confidential Information or any breach of its obligations under this Agreement will result in irreparable harm to the Disclosing Party which cannot be adequate...

AI summary The Recipient acknowledges that unauthorized use of Confidential Information would cause irreparable harm to the Disclosing Party, necessitating equitable remedies. The Recipient agrees not to oppose interim relief and accepts that these provisions are fair. The agreement survives termination.