Topic:"Grid Modernization" in M12282

s required to maintain electric  grid stability and power quality Transmission Capacity Maintaining the availability of the transmission system to transport  Transmission electricity safely and reliably Transmission System Electricity lo...

AI summary The text outlines key performance indicators related to the transmission and distribution systems, including grid stability, power quality, transmission and distribution capacity, system losses, and voltage levels. These metrics are essential for maintaining reliable electricity delivery.

usetts and New York. From 2010 to 2020, I provided ongoing 17 expert review and testimony on EmPOWER Maryland’s energy efficiency portfolio on behalf of that 18 state’s Office of People’s Counsel. 19 For Nova Scotia, I served as a senior a...

AI summary David G. Hill, Ph.D., has provided expert testimony and advisory services on energy efficiency programs and infrastructure in multiple jurisdictions, including Nova Scotia, Maryland, and Ontario, with a focus on demand-side management, avoided costs, and gas infrastructure planning.

Maintaining the availability of the transmission system to transport Transmission Capacity Transmission electricity safely and reliably Transmission System Losses Electricity lost through the transmission system Maintaining the availabilit...

AI summary The text outlines key aspects of transmission and distribution systems, including capacity, losses, voltage management, and financial incentives for DERs. It also mentions utility direct investment in DERs and program administration efforts.

Request IR-01: Refer to EfficiencyOne's (E1) Evidence at page 28, which includes the list of distribution impacts included in the new benefit-cost analysis (BCA) test. (a) Did the Demand Side Management Advisory Group (DSMAG) consider incl...

AI summary The response to IR-01 confirms that DSMAG and EFG considered distribution voltage in the Nova Scotia Jurisdictional Benefit Cost Test but did not assign it a zero value. EFG notes that while DERs can impact voltage on distribution lines, NS Power evaluates these effects during interconnection processes. The analysis references EFG's Report and M12282.

I. INTRODUCTION AND QUALIFICATIONS - Q. Please state your name, title, and employer. - A. My name is Courtney Lane. I am a Senior Principal at Synapse Energy Economics, Inc. - ("Synapse"), located at 485 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA...

AI summary Courtney Lane, a Senior Principal at Synapse Energy Economics, Inc., describes her firm's expertise in energy regulation, including demand-side and supply-side analysis, energy efficiency, and utility filings. She highlights over 20 years of experience in energy policy, including work on performance-based regulation and grid modernization, prior to joining Synapse at National Grid.

TESTIMONY Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Docket Nos. E‐015/PA‐24‐198,M‐24‐383) : Direct and Surrebuttal Testimony of Courtney Lane regarding the Petition of Minnesota Power for Acquisition of ALLETE by Canada Pension Plan Investmen...

AI summary Courtney Lane provided testimony in multiple U.S. state regulatory proceedings on energy-related matters, including utility acquisitions, electric vehicle infrastructure, rate design, and grid modernization. She represented organizations such as the Sierra Club, Maryland Office of People's Counsel, and New Mexico Department of Justice across various cases from 2024 to 2025.

Vermont - Reviewed and analyzed program proposals for the Community Energy & Efficiency Development Fund (CEED Fund), including the development of scoring and rebalancing mechanisms and reviewing and revising cost-effectiveness analyses fo...

AI summary Activities include analyzing the Community Energy & Efficiency Development Fund (CEED Fund) proposals, developing cost-effectiveness models for energy efficiency programs, supporting Efficiency Vermont's operations, and assisting Vermont Gas Systems' transition. Work spans 2000–2017, focusing on energy efficiency, reliability gap assessments, and technical tool development for utilities in Vermont.

te of between approximately $2.6 and $3.4 billion in capital expenditures on the electric distribution and transmission system which would be needed in less than 20 years. Even at 25 percent electrification of gas load, peak demand would i...

AI summary The analysis highlights that electrification of gas load could lead to increased capital expenditures on electric infrastructure and higher peak demand, but integrated gas and electric systems offer solutions to manage the energy transition.

TOPICS OF INTEREST Resource procurement, short & long term purchase agreements for both electric & natural gas commodity, transmission, distribution, storage. Wholesale and retail market design and analysis, BTM resources. Natural gas mark...

AI summary The document outlines key topics including resource procurement, market design for electricity and natural gas, economic analysis, FERC policy issues, battery storage, integrated resource planning, and infrastructure replacement programs. It emphasizes both short-term and long-term procurement strategies, renewable fuels, and regulatory considerations.

t 2017-2018): Support in regulatory proceedings before the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board on matters of Revenue Requirement, customer class and rate design, and smart meter implementation. For the PEI Federation of Agriculture (2...

AI summary Bowman Economic Consulting Inc. provides regulatory and technical support across various provinces, including rate design, cost of service modeling, revenue requirement analysis, and smart meter implementation. Clients include utility companies, government bodies, and law firms, with projects spanning energy, infrastructure, and environmental regulation.

Energy Futures Group, Inc - Maryland Public Service Commission. Part of team that led a year-long stakeholder Work Group in the development of a unified benefit-cost analysis (UBCA) framework for consideration of all distributed energy res...

AI summary Energy Futures Group, Inc. leads benefit-cost analysis frameworks for DERs in Maryland and Nova Scotia, advises on gas DSM and IRP committees in Ontario, and represents environmental groups in regulatory proceedings. They focus on UBCA development, demand response, electrification, and decarbonization strategies.

Energy Efficiency Technology and Market Research - Year 8 Building Energy Benchmarking: City of Edmonton (Nov. 2024 ongoing) - Building Controls Program Design Support: FortisBC (Jun. 2024 November 2024) - 2024 Conservation Potential Revie...

AI summary The document outlines multiple energy efficiency and market research initiatives underway in 2023-2025, involving organizations like FortisBC, Fortis Energy Inc., Natural Resources Canada, and others. Projects include building benchmarking, conservation reviews, retrofit studies, and grid integration analyses, spanning provinces and focusing on residential, commercial, and transportation sectors.

Energy Efficiency Program Design, Administration and Support - Custom Efficiency Program (CEP) Update: FortisBC (Nov. 2023-ongoing) - Achievable Potential Study (Ad Hoc) Support: Enbridge Gas (September 2023 ongoing) - Resource Plan and Lo...

AI summary The document lists energy efficiency programs and initiatives undertaken by various organizations from 2010 to 2023, focusing on program design, administration, and support. Key participants include FortisBC, Enbridge Gas, FCM, CMHC, and IESO, with projects spanning residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal sectors. Efforts include DSM planning, retrofit programs, GHG accounting, and incentive development.

4.8 Avoided Costs [212] Eastward raised concern about NS Power's avoided cost values and requested confirmation that ancillary service costs, peak costs and system reliability are embedded in the avoided cost values. Eastward also requeste...

AI summary Eastward questioned NS Power's avoided cost values, seeking confirmation that ancillary service costs, peak costs, and system reliability are included. NS Power explained that peak demand, ancillary services, and reliability are factored into avoided cost modeling, using the latest IRP model and ongoing DSMAG discussions. The Board accepted this response as adequate.

Request IR-1: - Refer to EfficiencyOne's (E1) Evidence at page 28, which includes the list of distribution impacts included in the new benefit-cost analysis (BCA) test. - a. Did the Demand Side Management Advisory Group (DSMAG) consider in...

AI summary The document references EfficiencyOne's evidence on distribution impacts in a new BCA test and asks whether DSMAG and EFG considered including Distribution Voltage in the Nova Scotia Jurisdictional Benefit Cost Test but valuing it at zero. It seeks explanations for their inclusion or exclusion decisions.

Request IR-14: - Page 35 of the EFG Report states that the "best option may be to consider ancillary services as embedded within the generation and capacity avoided costs." - a. Please explain how the avoided costs for generation and capac...

AI summary Page 35 of the EFG Report suggests embedding ancillary services within generation and capacity avoided costs. The request seeks clarification on how avoided costs account for ancillary services' impact, highlighting a key debate in cost methodology and resource valuation.

RELIABILITY IMPACTS In its Rebuttal Evidence E1 stated that "NS Power's avoided cost of capacity implicitly includes reliability impacts through a planning reserve margin adjustment" 44 , and "If reliability differs between modelled scenar...

AI summary The document discusses reliability impacts in energy planning, noting that E1 claims avoided costs include reliability adjustments. Experts confirm adding capacity increases reserve margins and system impacts should be considered. EFG assumes ancillary service costs are embedded in avoided costs. Eastward argues reliability differences must be assessed explicitly, opposing deferral to future reviews and requesting NS Power to clarify ancillary service inclusion.

2.5 CONSISTENCY - The submission also highlights concerns about inconsistency across distributed energy resources (DERs), - suggesting that the BCA test would require expansion to other areas and create regulatory challenges. The - IG stat...

AI summary The Industrial Group (IG) argues that the Proposed BCA test is inconsistent with Nova Scotia Power's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and capital asset treatment, advocating for the utility cost test (PAC). EfficiencyOne (E1) counters that the NSPM is tailored for DERs, the TRC test isn't linked to IRP, and NS Power opposes the PAC test. The debate centers on cost-effectiveness testing for DSM and DERs.

- Generation System Impacts, including avoided energy production, avoided generation capacity, avoided carbon compliance costs, avoided variable O&M and generation risk and reliability impacts; - Transmission System Impacts, including avoi...

AI summary The proposed Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) test evaluates impacts across generation, transmission, distribution, and utility administrative systems. It also incorporates non-utility impacts from the Energy Reform Act and More Access to Energy Act , including host-customer, fuel savings, and societal benefits like GHG reductions and health improvements.