N-52026-2027 GRA Appendix 1-6 - Redacted
5 passages
1.2. Goals and Objectives The goal of the Climate Adaptation Plan is to ensure the utility continues to successfully deliver on its mission to provide safe, reliable and affordable electricity, while improving its resilience to climate cha...
AI summary NS Power's Climate Adaptation Plan aims to ensure reliable electricity delivery while enhancing resilience to climate change. Key objectives include integrating climate risks into asset management, leveraging climate science, reducing vulnerabilities, fostering industry collaboration, and driving innovation for long-term adaptation.
5.4 New Inspection Technologies Drones are another technology currently being deployed at NS Power for inspections of our transmission and distribution lines. As drones collect video and still images, there is a combination of manual and A...
AI summary NS Power uses drones and satellite imagery for inspecting transmission lines and managing vegetation. Drones provide detailed inspections and AI analysis for identifying equipment issues. Satellite imagery with AI assesses vegetation proximity to lines, aiding wildfire prevention and vegetation management. Section 7 elaborates on vegetation management practices.
2026-2027 GRA Direct Evidence Appendix 3C Page 22 of 38 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) NS Power completed two pilots of satellite imagery to assess distribution vegetation condition over the past three years. The findings of t...
AI summary NS Power conducted two satellite imagery pilots over three years to assess distribution vegetation conditions, concluding the technology provides sufficient detail for strategic/tactical vegetation management and wildfire mitigation. A province-wide program was implemented in 2025.
6.0 Wildfire Risk Reduction Components in poor condition are at higher risk of unplanned failure and should be prioritized for replacement or upgrade. Investment in maintaining or upgrading overhead lines will reduce the potential for tran...
AI summary NS Power prioritizes infrastructure upgrades and vegetation management to reduce wildfire risks. Measures include overhead line hardening, right-of-way widening, animal guards, drone inspections, and satellite monitoring. These efforts aim to enhance grid resilience against climate change impacts and prevent ignition sources.
Covered conductor installation Covered conductors act as a physical barrier between electrical equipment and vegetation, animal contact, and other external contacts. This reduces the possibility of power line arcing or sparking if contact...
AI summary Covered conductors reduce risks from power line arcing by acting as barriers against vegetation, animal contact, and other external factors. NS Power currently uses them in limited targeted locations on distribution lines, with expanded use being considered. Hendrix cables are highlighted as an example of effective covered conductor technology.
N-62026-2027 GRA Appendix 7A-E - Redacted
2 passages
REDACTED Appendix 7A – OM&G Costs by Group - Enhancement of the asset management approach to reduce substation maintenance cycles and costs. - Addition of GPS automatic vehicle locators on all T&D fleet vehicles in order to track crew on-s...
AI summary NS Power outlines initiatives to reduce OM&G costs through technology integration (e.g., GPS, GIS, ADMS), process optimization (e.g., mobile fueling, shift repurposing), and collaboration with Bell Aliant and government departments. These measures aim to improve efficiency, reduce downtime, and lower operational expenses.
1.8.5 Strategic Planning The Strategic Planning Team works with leaders across the business to identify, plan and recommend technology-intensive investments that drive enterprise level value. This includes establishing and managing a portf...
AI summary The Strategic Planning Team manages technology investments aligned with business objectives, with IT costs increasing from $47.6M in 2025 to $52.5M in 2027 due to staffing, cybersecurity, and cloud migration, partially offset by $3.5M in recoveries from affiliated companies.
N-84Response to Undertaking U-17
5 passages
ection is filed under subsection 93.4(4) or (5) of the Act. 4 (1) The Act is amended by adding the following after section 93.3: Definitions 93.4 (1) The following definitions apply in this section. FABI surplus, of a foreign affiliate (re...
AI summary The text outlines an amendment to the Act, specifically adding definitions under section 93.4. It defines FABI surplus in relation to a foreign affiliate, including specific conditions related to taxable surplus calculations under the Income Tax Regulations.
ductible 248(1), but does not include a natural person or a part- par l’effet de la division 95(2)f.11)(ii)(D)) nership. (contribuable) sur le total des sommes dont chacune re- présente : transaction includes an arrangement or event. (opér...
AI summary The text outlines definitions related to tax regulations, including terms such as 'transaction,' 'transferred capacity,' and provisions under subsection 95(2)f.11)(ii)(D). It discusses revenue from interests and financing of affiliated companies and sums included under specific tax subdivisions.
2 the foreign affiliate’s relevant affiliate écrit en vertu de la présente division selon les interest and financing expenses (as de- modalités réglementaires, fined in subsection 18.2(1)) (determined without regard to this clause and subs...
AI summary The text outlines specific financial calculations related to a foreign affiliate's interest and financing expenses, as well as foreign accrual property losses, under a regulatory framework. These calculations are determined without regard to certain subsections of the Income Tax Regulations.
3 les dépenses d’intérêts et de finance- (determined without regard to this clause, ment de la société affiliée pertinentes clause (D) and subsection 18.2(19)) for the (au sens du paragraphe 18.2(1)) de la socié- taxation year, and té étra...
AI summary The text outlines the determination of interest and finance expenses of a foreign affiliate, excluding specific provisions, and references the foreign affiliate's foreign accrual property loss or income for the taxation year.
dmissible prévu pour la engineering work in relation to specific property in- quatrième période du projet; cluded in Class 57 or Class 58; F : (c) conducting feasibility studies or pre-feasibility a) si le moment où la dépense est engagée...
AI summary The text outlines engineering work, feasibility studies, environmental assessments, and land clearing activities related to a project divided into specific time periods. It includes factors for determining the rate of engagement based on the timing of expenses.
101354Board Decision
5 passages
, respond to customer inquiries on billing and usage, and support the design and evaluation of customer programs. However, there is also a proposed increase for customer engagement and communications: The incremental labour for Customer Ex...
AI summary The document outlines a proposed increase in customer engagement initiatives, including digital solutions and training programs, to enhance customer experience. NS Power states it will not use CSAT as a reliability metric, focusing instead on performance standards and outage reduction. Exhibits N-27, NSEB IR-69, and NSEB IR-12 are referenced.
Further, given the nature of the current GRA settlement agreement approach, the Board is unaware of the extent to which ALG vs. ELG was discussed, or even considered, by the parties to the agreement. [232] The current GRA is the first time...
AI summary The Board notes that the current GRA settlement agreement has not addressed the ALG vs. ELG depreciation methodology debate, which has not been considered since the 2010 depreciation study. Previous approvals of 'black box' agreements in 2003 and 2010 did not establish a depreciation standard for NS Power. Significant changes since 2003, including legislative updates, technological advancements, climate change, and asset mix evolution, now influence depreciation calculations.
Value Concept The value concept assumes that all depreciable plant, due to forces such as obsolescence, wear and tear, and inadequacy, tends to diminish in value or worth with the passage of time. This value reduction may be dramatic-as wh...
AI summary The value concept explains depreciation of depreciable assets due to obsolescence, wear, and market changes. Examples include cars losing value rapidly and machinery becoming worthless if market demand disappears. Depreciation methods rely on periodic appraisals, but annual estimates are impractical for utilities requiring monthly depreciation records.
3.8.6.1 Findings [640] Because these technical issues were only raised in closing submissions, the Board has a poor record before it to make an informed decision on these points. As a result, the Board accepts the relevant calculations inc...
AI summary The Board accepts NS Power's calculations from the settlement agreement but questions the outdated methodology for OATT rates. Renewall emphasizes the need for competitive electricity markets, while the Board directs NS Power to address these concerns in future applications. The transmission tariff transition to IESO Nova Scotia by 2027 is noted, with the Board highlighting issues around confidential information disclosure in Excel files.
3.9.1 Innovation [645] In NSEB IR-132, NS Power was asked to describe any work it has done to develop new or innovative rate designs to leverage more granular data from Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters, promote efficient use o...
AI summary In response to NSEB IR-132, NS Power outlined initiatives to innovate rate designs using AMI data, including TVP programs, customer energy management systems, and collaborations with EfficiencyOne and Port Hawkesbury Paper. These efforts aim to improve resource efficiency and adapt to decarbonization and market changes.
101354Board Decision
4 passages
Approving and fixing rates, regulatory powers - 6 (1) In approving or fixing just and reasonable rates, tolls, charges or tariffs pursuant to this Act or any other enactment, the Energy Board may adopt any method or technique that it consi...
AI summary The Energy Board is authorized to approve rates and tariffs using appropriate methods, considering factors like competition, sustainability, and reliability. It regulates entities including the Independent Energy Systems Operator and Halifax Water's district energy project, while adhering to legislative frameworks such as the Public Utilities Act and More Access to Energy Act .
, respond to customer inquiries on billing and usage, and support the design and evaluation of customer programs. However, there is also a proposed increase for customer engagement and communications: The incremental labour for Customer Ex...
AI summary NS Power proposes increased customer engagement costs to support digital solutions like Green Button and My Energy Insights, along with training programs. It argues that Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) is not a reliable metric for evaluating its 5-Year Reliability Plan, focusing instead on performance standards and reliability improvements.
3.8.6.1 Findings [640] Because these technical issues were only raised in closing submissions, the Board has a poor record before it to make an informed decision on these points. As a result, the Board accepts the relevant calculations inc...
AI summary The Board accepts NS Power's settlement agreement calculations but acknowledges Renewall's concerns about outdated methodologies and the need for competitive energy markets. The transmission tariff transition to IESO Nova Scotia by 2027 requires NS Power to address Renewall's issues in future applications. Confidential information handling in filings is emphasized.
4.2.1 Findings [701] As noted above, the 2026 and 2027 values for the SCRR rider are zero. The proposed amendments are expected to correct the unbalanced asymmetrical nature of the current version of the rider. The amendments should also m...
AI summary The 2026 and 2027 SCRR rider values are zero. Proposed amendments aim to correct asymmetry and reduce administrative burdens from refunding small underspent funds. The Board approves the SCRR as a pilot during 2026-2027.