100025Board Decision
8 passages
- [1] Renewall Energy Inc. is a licensed retail supplier under the renewable to retail provisions in the Electricity Act , SNS 2025, c 18, Schedule. These provisions were added to the Electricity Act in 2013 and came into force in 2014. Th...
AI summary Renewall Energy Inc., a licensed retail supplier in Nova Scotia, requested the NSUARB to expedite tariff amendments to enable distribution-connected generation and net billing. NS Power argued the Board lacked jurisdiction, but the Board affirmed its authority and directed NS Power to engage with stakeholders and file an application by April 1, 2026.
Program for customer to generate electricity - 6 (1) In this Section, "customer" means all metered accounts registered to the same person or entity under the same rate code in the same distribution zone. - (2) A public utility may develop...
AI summary This section outlines a program allowing customers to generate electricity for their own use and sell excess electricity to Nova Scotia Power at the same rate they pay for electricity. The program applies to customers with generators over 27 kilowatts, and only renewable low-impact electricity qualifies. The Board must approve the program before implementation, and the Governor in Council may regulate various aspects of the program.
Customer may generate and sell electricity - 7 (1) A Nova Scotia Power customer may, as of right, with no requirement to participate in a Nova Scotia Power program, install a renewable low-impact generator or energy storage device with a t...
AI summary Nova Scotia Power customers may install renewable low-impact generators or energy storage devices up to 27 kilowatts without needing to participate in a program. Nova Scotia Power must purchase excess electricity up to the customer's annual usage at the same rate, but is not required to compensate for surplus generation. Existing net-metering contracts will transition to this new program but remain in effect until terminated under specific conditions.
Prohibition on system access charges and standard terms and conditions - 8 (1) A public utility may not create a fee structure, nor impose system access charges, that discourage customers from developing, installing and using their own ren...
AI summary The text prohibits public utilities from imposing system access charges that discourage customers from using renewable energy generators or energy storage. It also mandates Nova Scotia Power to develop standard terms and conditions for all customers, including those generating their own electricity, and outlines requirements for programs allowing customers to sell excess electricity back to the utility.
Class 2: greater than 100 kW up to 1 MW NSPI further proposed to limit all Class 1 participants to a total of 5 MW and all Class 2 participants to a total of 15 MW, with the stipulation that: …The system-wide 20 MW allocation for net-meter...
AI summary NSPI proposed capacity limits for net-metering participants, but the NSUARB rejected these limits, finding them inconsistent with promoting renewable energy. The 2022 amendments to the Electricity Act and Renewable Electricity Regulations have largely replaced the net metering program under Regulation 3.6 for new installations, while legacy arrangements continue under the Electricity Act.
Section 3A states: Program for customer to generate electricity 3A (1) In this Section, "customer" means all metered accounts registered to the same person or entity under the same rate code in a distribution zone. (2) A public utility may...
AI summary Section 3A of the Electricity Act allows customers to generate electricity for their own use and sell excess to the public utility at the same rate they pay. However, it does not permit third-party purchases or direct sales to other customers. NS Power emphasizes that net metering provisions under Section 3A only apply to customer-generated electricity for their own consumption, not for renewable to retail services.
oach also aligns with established regulatory principles, aimed at safeguarding reliability, system integrity, and customer equity. [Emphasis in original] [NS Power Submissions, August 15, 2025, p. 2] [47] Noting that NS Power had some form...
AI summary NS Power reiterates its approach aligns with regulatory principles of reliability and customer equity. Renewall argues that the Electricity Act does not create new self-generation rights but mandates NS Power to expand net metering, including removing caps and allowing smaller generators without approval. The legislation requires NSPI to purchase excess electricity up to a customer's annual usage, ensuring customer compensation for surplus energy production.
d customers with a cash payment for any surplus. Likewise, the amendments to the Electricity Act in 2022 dictated different requirements for net metering programs (again focused mostly on NS Power). [60] While renewable to retail customers...
AI summary The document discusses the distinction between customers of NS Power and retail suppliers under the Electricity Act , noting that sections 6 and 7 apply only to NS Power and not to retail supplier arrangements. The Board clarifies that net metering and surplus electricity payments are not applicable to customers of retail suppliers, as these are governed by contract rather than utility obligations.
98662Letter NSPI re: Reply Response to Board letter
6 passages
Section 3A states: Program for customer to generate electricity 3A (1) In this Section, "customer" means all metered accounts registered to the same person or entity under the same rate code in a distribution zone. (2) A public utility may...
AI summary Section 3A of the Electricity Act allows customers to generate electricity for their own use and sell excess to the public utility at the same rate they pay. However, it does not permit third-party purchases or direct sales to other customers. This restriction is reinforced by NS Power's Reply Evidence under M06214, which clarifies that net metering provisions apply only to the customer-generator and NS Power, not to the RtR Market.
Background NS Power's internal working group has been assessing the impact of NS Power customers migrating to the LRS on FAM recovery. On January 22, 2024, NS Power briefed Renewall on issues regarding the FAM. In short, NS Power is guided...
AI summary NS Power is assessing the impact of customers moving to the LRS on FAM recovery and has outlined principles for managing fuel costs and administrative simplicity. NS Power has raised concerns about complexities in quantifying imbalances with Renewall.
Summary of Outstanding Issues To date, the challenges identified above have not been adequately addressed. NS Power is not stating that a customer could not take interruptible service in the RtR market; however, the Company needs to unders...
AI summary NS Power acknowledges that customers could take interruptible service in the RtR market but emphasizes the need for Renewall to clarify enforcement mechanisms and pricing strategies to prevent negative impacts on customers.
Next Steps Addressing the challenges above will be necessary to permit an interruptible customer to migrate to RtR supply and remain as an interruptible customer. NS Power cannot progress further absent Renewall's confirmation that it unde...
AI summary NS Power requires Renewall to confirm its understanding of the complexities and costs of providing interruptible service and to outline terms for offering such service, including penalties for non-compliance. Due to limited interruptible customers and uncertainty, NS Power recommends assessing transitions on a case-by-case basis or exploring a pilot project.
n, and transmission and distribution losses. In the Code of Conduct for Renewable Low-Impact Electricity Sales in Nova Scotia, the following definition of behind-the-meter applies to the RtR market: "Behind-the-Meter" means the sale of ele...
AI summary The text defines 'Behind-the-Meter' in the context of renewable low-impact electricity sales, clarifying that it refers to direct sales from generation facilities to loads without using NS Power's transmission or distribution systems. It also outlines the scope of the Code of Conduct, noting that it applies to licensed sales to retail customers but excludes wholesale transactions and behind-the-meter arrangements.
Next Steps It remains NS Power's position that, while the allowable uses of the distribution system by non-NS Power entities include the use of the NSUARB-approved Distribution Tariff to deliver energy to RtR customers, they do not include...
AI summary NS Power maintains that the distribution system's allowable uses by non-NS Power entities do not include the sale of surplus customer self-generated energy to a Licensed Retail Supplier in the RtR Market, and the EBS tariff is not intended to facilitate such sales, making net metering/billing unavailable in the RtR Market under current regulations.
99072Reply Submission - Renewall
5 passages
Words and Context The RtR Market and the regulation of a licensed retail supplier (" LRS ") is governed by ss.3B-3G of the Electricity Act . NSPI and SBA, in their interpretation of the Electricity Act, have failed to account for the disti...
AI summary The document discusses the regulation of the RtR Market and the distinction between NSPI as a public utility and the regulation of a licensed retail supplier (LRS) under the Electricity Act. It emphasizes the Board's authority to oversee the sale of renewable low-impact electricity and the need for tariffs that facilitate such purchases without unfairly restricting the market.
Purpose and Intention of Government The RtR provisions in the Electricity Act were introduced as part of the Energy Reform (2013) Act . When the Bill to amend the Electricity Act was introduced, it was made clear that the purpose was to pr...
AI summary The document outlines the purpose and intention of the government regarding the Retail-to-Retail (RtR) provisions in the Electricity Act , emphasizing the promotion of competition, renewable investment, and market adaptability. NSPI notes the slow progress of retail competition and the challenges faced by REI, the first Licensed Retail Supplier (LRS), in accessing renewable electricity and setting fair tariffs.
s in which NSPI customers can self-generate and sell spilled energy to NSPI. These provisions do not create a new right to self-generate, nor do they create the right for NSPI to purchase the energy. The history of net metering is importan...
AI summary The document discusses the evolution of net metering in Nova Scotia, including the amendments to the Electricity Act and Renewable Electricity Regulations . It highlights that NSPI is required to purchase excess electricity up to a customer's yearly total usage, ensuring compensation for surplus energy produced by customers.
sales of renewable lowimpact energy by making only those sales subject to tariffs and regulation[.](#page-6-2) 9 [Emphasis Added] Similarly, it is unlikely that the drafters intended to impair a retail customer's ability to self-generate r...
AI summary The text discusses the regulation of behind-the-meter renewable energy sales, emphasizing that retail customers should not be disadvantaged in self-generating renewable energy. It references the need for fair use of the transmission and distribution system by Licensed Retail Suppliers and highlights that self-generation is netted out in regulations.
Conclusion The Electricity Act , and provisions pertaining to the RtR Market, must be given meaning based on the words used, within the context of the Act , read harmoniously with the purposes of the Act and particular provisions. The RtR...
AI summary The conclusion emphasizes that the Electricity Act allows the Board broad discretion in creating tariffs for the RtR Market to facilitate the sale of low-impact renewable energy. There are no legal restrictions on LRSs using the distribution system to access excess renewable electricity. REI requests the Board establish a process and timetable for implementing these tariffs.
100025Board Decision
8 passages
2.0 BACKGROUND - [5] On June 19, 2025, Renewall sought directions from the Board and requested an expedited process to amend the existing renewable to retail tariffs or create a new tariff to enable distribution-connected generation and ne...
AI summary In June 2025, Renewall requested the Board to amend or create a new tariff to enable distribution-connected generation and net billing, citing NS Power's obligations. NS Power responded that net metering is not available in the renewable to retail market. The Board requested submissions on whether existing regulations could be amended and set a timeline for interventions.
Program for customer to generate electricity - 6 (1) In this Section, "customer" means all metered accounts registered to the same person or entity under the same rate code in the same distribution zone. - (2) A public utility may develop...
AI summary This section outlines a program allowing customers to generate electricity for their own use and sell excess electricity to Nova Scotia Power at the rate they pay for electricity. The program applies to specific customer classes and generators with nameplate capacities over 27 kW. It also includes regulatory requirements for approval, data collection, and oversight by the Board.
Customer may generate and sell electricity - 7 (1) A Nova Scotia Power customer may, as of right, with no requirement to participate in a Nova Scotia Power program, install a renewable low-impact generator or energy storage device with a t...
AI summary Nova Scotia Power customers may install renewable low-impact generators or energy storage devices up to 27 kW without requiring participation in a program. The utility is required to purchase excess electricity up to the customer's annual usage at the same rate, but is not obligated to compensate for electricity beyond that. Existing net-metering contracts will transition to this new program but remain in effect until terminated under specific conditions.
er may not compensate the customer for more electricity than they consumed in the calendar year (s. 6(6)). [29] In NS Power's case, the program must be for renewable low-impact electricity (s. 6(5)). [30] Section 7 of the Electricity Act a...
AI summary The document discusses provisions related to net metering and system access charges under the Electricity Act and Renewable Electricity Regulations. It outlines restrictions on compensation for excess electricity generated by customers and eligibility requirements for renewable low-impact generators. These provisions have been in place since 2022, with amendments to the Electricity Act and subsequent updates to the Renewable Electricity Regulations.
Class 2: greater than 100 kW up to 1 MW NSPI further proposed to limit all Class 1 participants to a total of 5 MW and all Class 2 participants to a total of 15 MW, with the stipulation that: …The system-wide 20 MW allocation for net-meter...
AI summary NSPI proposed class-based net-metering limits, but the NSUARB rejected them due to lack of evidence and inconsistency with renewable energy goals. The 2022 amendments to the Electricity Act and Renewable Electricity Regulations have largely replaced the legacy net-metering program, though some provisions remain.
Section 3A states: Program for customer to generate electricity 3A (1) In this Section, "customer" means all metered accounts registered to the same person or entity under the same rate code in a distribution zone. (2) A public utility may...
AI summary Section 3A of the Electricity Act allows customers to generate electricity for their own use and sell excess to the public utility at the same rate they pay. However, it explicitly restricts third-party purchases and retail arrangements, with NS Power emphasizing that net metering provisions apply only to the customer-generator relationship and not to renewable to retail services.
oach also aligns with established regulatory principles, aimed at safeguarding reliability, system integrity, and customer equity. [Emphasis in original] [NS Power Submissions, August 15, 2025, p. 2] [47] Noting that NS Power had some form...
AI summary NS Power emphasizes the importance of safeguarding reliability, system integrity, and customer equity. Renewall argues that the Electricity Act does not create new rights of self-generation but mandates NS Power to expand its net metering program. The legislation requires NS Power to purchase excess electricity up to a customer's annual usage, ensuring compensation for excess generation.
the Electricity Act to approve tariffs, procedures and standards of conduct relating to distribution-connected resources for retail suppliers, provided they can satisfy the limitations in s. 22(2). [59] Notwithstanding the submissions from...
AI summary The Board interprets the Electricity Act as not restricting net metering or net billing practices to specific customer classes. The 2010 amendments aimed to remove NS Power's discretion in providing net metering and impose obligations, while the 2022 amendments introduced different requirements for net metering programs, primarily affecting NS Power.