Topic:"Rate Rider" in M12149

Item 2 - Tenant Requesting Replacement This item shall be used to identify the replacement of a pole at the request of the tenant. It may be a Joint Use or Non Joint Use line, service, crossover pole, etc. If replacement is required due to...

AI summary This item outlines the process for replacing a pole at the request of a tenant, which can be a joint use or non-joint use line, service, or crossover pole. Adjustments due to changes in the tenant's class of plant are to be identified on Line 1.

Item 8 - NSPI Purchasing with Non MT&T CATV (Form C4502) This item is applicable to NSPI only and identifies MT&T credit poles with non MT&T owned CATV cable in Communication Zone which NSPI are to purchase. (Reference Item #10)

AI summary Item 8 outlines NSPI's responsibility to purchase MT&T credit poles with non MT&T owned CATV cable in Communication Zone, as referenced in Item #10.

NON-CONFIDENTIAL (c) As of March 2025, NS Power provides the rebate to eligible customers, regardless of which utility owns the poles. Details about the financial reconciliation between NS Power and Bell will be addressed as part of the fu...

AI summary NS Power discusses rebate structures and pole ownership agreements with Bell Aliant. It states that a new Joint Use Agreement (JUA) will eliminate differences in rebate schemes based on pole ownership, aligning with regulatory principles of equity and non-discrimination. NS Power has not conducted a formal analysis on the impact of differing rebate structures on ratepayers and has not assessed additional costs from the new approach.

Reply to Mr. Felderhof's Comment Mr. Felderhof noted that under the new joint use framework, the increased cost of line maintenance for NS Power will be passed on to ratepayers. NS Power clarifies that this is not the case. As outlined in...

AI summary Mr. Felderhof expressed concern that NS Power would pass increased line maintenance costs to ratepayers under the new joint use framework. NS Power clarifies that the new process does not create additional ongoing maintenance obligations and that poles transferred under the LOI are subject to reconciliations to maintain ownership ratios, avoiding net new maintenance costs.

S Power industrial customers). On May 8, 2025, NS Power filed a letter of intent with Bell dated March 25, 2025 (Letter of Intent). NS Power summarized the contents of the Letter of Intent as follows: Since 2024, NS Power has been working...

AI summary NS Power and Bell have reached a proposed solution to address communication and delay issues, with NS Power taking responsibility for all new line extensions. The Board agrees that the Letter of Intent should address the issues but will monitor its implementation before closing the matter.

Regulations 2.6 and 2.12. Bell administered its own separate rebate scheme which did not provide any rebates for poles. The Board asked NS Power to explain how the rebate scheme set out in sections 2.6 and 2.12 of the NS Power Regulations,...

AI summary The document discusses NS Power's rebate scheme for line/service extensions, explaining how it ensures fair cost allocation among customers. The scheme allows for partial refunds when subsequent customers connect within ten years, but there is no similar rebate for Bell's line/service extensions.

unt for the Joint Use Agreement structure. The situation did, however, lead to NS Power customers being treated differently under the rebate scheme depending on which entity owned the joint-use poles. [15] Where customers request services...

AI summary The document discusses the treatment of NS Power customers under rebate schemes depending on joint-use pole ownership. It outlines how the Letter of Intent proposes NS Power owning poles initially, with a later reconciliation to maintain a 60/40 ownership split, ensuring fair treatment of all customers in rebate provisions.

sues prompting the investigation, service delays and inconsistent rebate treatment, have already been resolved operationally, and that further reporting would impose costs without corresponding value. [23] The Board finds that, at this tim...

AI summary The Board acknowledges that previous issues prompting the investigation, service delays, and inconsistent rebate treatment have been resolved operationally. However, it requires a formal follow-up report from NS Power within three months of the final agreement between Bell and NS Power being executed in 2026 to ensure all issues are properly addressed.

Request IR-5: - What are the specific criteria used to determine eligibility for rebates for poles owned by Bell Aliant - versus those owned by NS Power?

AI summary The document asks about the specific criteria used to determine eligibility for rebates for poles owned by Bell Aliant compared to those owned by NS Power.

Request IR-6: - a) With reference to matter M11838, why was the cost of powerline installation, including the - cost of the poles, not fully eligible for NS Power rebates in areas served by Bell Aliant. - b) How does this impact the afford...

AI summary Request IR-6 asks why NS Power rebates for powerline installation costs are not fully eligible in Bell Aliant-served areas, how this affects project affordability, and how NS Power would recover costs if rebates were required under the JUA. It also seeks an estimate of rebate costs over the next five years.

. Maintain improvements in turnaround times. NS Power notes average inspection times improved from 4-6 weeks to 2 weeks in 2024 and the 2 week average target will be maintained in 2025.[11](#page-2-0) Based on NS Power's evidence and respo...

AI summary NS Power has improved inspection times from 4-6 weeks to 2 weeks in 2024, and aims to maintain this target in 2025. However, the implementation of the Letter of Intent may not fully resolve concerns about service timeliness due to impacts from a recent cybersecurity incident. NS Power and Bell have not yet executed a final agreement, with formalization expected in 2026.

NS Power Response NS Power acknowledges the CA's concerns regarding the timeline for formalizing the final agreement. While the LOI was introduced as an interim measure, the process changes within it have been fully operational since March...

AI summary NS Power acknowledges the CA's concerns about the timeline for finalizing the agreement, explaining that the revised process under the LOI has been operational since March 2025 and has improved customer experience by streamlining line extension requests and ensuring consistent rebate policies. The delay in finalizing the agreement is due to the restoration of the GIS database, which is expected by Q1 2026.

Regulations 2.6 and 2.12. Bell administered its own separate rebate scheme which did not provide any rebates for poles. The Board asked NS Power to explain how the rebate scheme set out in sections 2.6 and 2.12 of the NS Power Regulations,...

AI summary NS Power's rebate scheme for line/service extensions is designed to ensure fair cost-sharing among customers. It provides rebates for extensions beyond 92 metres, with adjustments based on the length of the extension and subsequent connections. Bell, however, does not offer similar rebates for its poles.

Are connections and the disconnection being delayed? [19] Prior to the Letter of Intent, NS Power had to coordinate new customer extensions and disconnections with Bell, in situations where Bell owned the mainline. This created the potenti...

AI summary NS Power previously faced potential delays in customer connections and disconnections due to coordination with Bell when Bell owned the mainline. A 2024 initiative increased workload, prompting discussions that led to a new Letter of Intent. The new framework allows NS Power to manage line extensions directly, eliminating prior coordination delays and improving efficiency with no reported drawbacks or backlog.