Topic:"Rate Rider" in M12619

le installations.) Conversion Work $940,000 5 year plan feeder level Targeted Equipment Replacement $6,668,263 Total D055 Planned Replacement of Distribution Equipment $15,000,016 D020 Padmount Replacements 2,278,256 Distribution Upgrades...

AI summary The document outlines the 2026 ACE Plan and discusses the Board's directives to NS Power regarding the D005 Routine, including improving transparency in forecasting, incorporating historical storm events, and providing details on failed and damaged devices in future filings.

2 $ 3,693,033 $ 2,691,017 $ 2,691,017 Not Approved at this time Transmission 43324 Replace L6513 / Upgrade Line Terminals 2015 ACE Plan (for Subsequent Approval) OTQ - January 27, 2022 $ 23,429,902 $ 18,626,428 $ 18,625,082 Not Approved at...

AI summary The text presents a list of projects related to transmission and generation, including their approval status, costs, and associated ACE plans. Some projects are approved, while others are not approved at this time. The projects include line terminal upgrades, substation additions, and dam refurbishments.

NS Power’s TVP Tariff pilot continues to 22 demonstrate strong value as an effective mechanism for encouraging load shifting to improve 23 system efficiency and for engaging customers through innovative rate options. Over the past four 24...

AI summary NS Power's TVP Tariff pilot has successfully reduced demand and improved system efficiency through load shifting. The 2024/25 season expanded participation and introduced the MURB TOU pilot, with positive stakeholder feedback and ongoing evaluation.

Q: Could a smaller contingency budget increase the number of ATO proceedings? A: Yes, a possible consequence of the Board adopting my recommendation is that there could be slightly more ATO proceedings. From a cost minimization perspective...

AI summary A smaller contingency budget may lead to more ATO proceedings, as they can identify risks that lead to overspending in capital projects. Examples include the L6549 transmission line project and the 76V-T1 Transformer Replacement, where unexpected costs led to increased ATO budgets. Improved planning and risk management could help mitigate these issues.

rid Nova Scotia Project on behalf of the Nova Scotia Consumer Advocate. Cost classification, decommissioning costs, justification for software vendor selection, and suggested changes to project scope. Nova Scotia UARB Matter No. M09499, di...

AI summary Paul Chernick provided expert testimony on various matters related to Nova Scotia Power's capital expenditures, decommissioning costs, and load forecasts, as well as on electric vehicle charging programs in California. The testimony focused on cost justification, project scope, and ensuring alignment with regulatory goals and budget controls.

tions that appear in annual ACE Plans, or a continued lack of quantifiable benefits over time related to the Five-Year Reliability Plan, for example, could cause the Board to reevaluate this position. [174] The foregoing discussion does no...

AI summary The document discusses the impact of increasing capital expenditures on rate pressures and the need for careful review of capital approvals. It highlights that while current capital costs are already included in 2026 and 2027 rates, there is a limit to how much rate increases and deferral accounts can be tolerated before affecting financial flexibility and fairness to future ratepayers.

Request IR-164: - In NS Power's General Rate Application (GRA), matter M12451, exhibit N-7 page 655 notes that - both Trenton units 5 will be retired on 12-2029 and that of the composite remaining life, there are - 5.9 years for Trenton 5....

AI summary The text requests clarification on the discrepancy in retirement dates for Trenton 5 units between two matters, noting that one document states retirement in 2029 with a remaining life of 5.9 years, while another matter may indicate a different date.

ol and risk assessment. 5. Were any projects included in NS Power’s request for approval in the past two ACE Plans that would not meet this improved PDM test? If so, please identify and explain why. Refer the Application Section 11.1.1 Sus...

AI summary The text refers to questions and figures from NS Power’s application regarding capital investment planning, cost variances, and regulatory requirements. It asks whether past projects meet an improved PDM test, compares investment levels in the 2026 ACE Plan with the Evergreen IRP, and seeks clarification on cost variance thresholds and their interpretation.

vent scheduled for February 3, 2026, as described in this event link below: 1. Please confirm whether the DLR Deployment project that NS Power will present at Distributech, described as the largest undertaken in North America, is included...

AI summary The text includes questions regarding NS Power's upcoming presentation on the DLR Deployment project, the benefits of the Dynamic Line Rating upgrade, oversight under IESO Nova Scotia, and grid modernization programs. It also references specific sections of the Application and asks about the impact of these investments on customer demand and system capacity.

plication, Page 68 of 782, Lines 9 – 26, Section 10.4, 2026 Routine Capital Spending Project Details, which refers to the status of NS Power’s Right-of-Way (ROW) transmission and distribution projects 1. Does any of the ROW widening projec...

AI summary The text contains a series of questions raised in a regulatory proceeding regarding NS Power's 2026 capital spending projects, including ROW widening, energy storage, grid resiliency, and the Country Harbour Cell Tower. It also references the Tusket project and its interaction with an ongoing overspend application.

nd the total amount anticipated (or at least order of magnitude). Reference:N-1, 2026 ACE Plan, pages 14, 31, and 33. Preamble: The Application provides different total approval requests sought. Please reconcile the figures within the 2026...

AI summary The document requests clarification on the discrepancies in the 2026 ACE Plan's total approval requests and asks NSPI to explain the significant increase in capital spending budgets from 2025 and 2026, including the drivers, impact on customer rates, and consideration of affordability. It also asks whether Figure 1 includes external funding and requests an updated figure if not.

Request IR-1: For each of the projects listed below: - C0014218 HYD WRC LEM Balance of Plant - 29807 HYD Tusket Falls Main Dam - C0021140 New 138KV-25KV Substation Stellarton - C0045132 Eastern Clean Energy Initiative (ECEI) Energy Storage...

AI summary Request IR-1 asks for detailed cost and impact information on various energy projects, including initial approval costs, changes in cost, rate impacts, and mitigation actions taken by NS Power. The request focuses on projects with a cost change of 30% or more from their original approval.

responding to this question, NS Power views it as reasonable to consider (not necessarily support) revised language, please provide proposed edits that would effectuate the change. Request IR-4: With respect to Appendix D, p. 39, please pr...

AI summary NS Power is being asked to provide views on revising definitions related to related projects, explain changes in the scope and budget of a synchronous condensers project, and provide information on Section 6.0 of a document.

ghts; and 4. External factors driving costs, including supply chain issues, shifts in the regular/overtime labour breakdown due to other utility programs. 2. In the referenced RIR, NS Power stated: NS Power has data on single-family and mu...

AI summary The text discusses NS Power's data tracking challenges, specifically regarding residential additions and internal work orders. It requests information on changes to work orders since 2025, updates on a continuous improvement initiative, and plans for future system upgrades.

Request IR-3: - Reference: Exhibit N-9, Evidence of John D. Wilson, pages 21 24. - Preamble: Mr. Wilson reviewed NSPI's proposed "scope change", finding that significant - ambiguity remains, and expressing concern that the proposed definit...

AI summary John D. Wilson reviewed NSPI's proposed 'scope change' and identified significant ambiguity, expressing concern that the definition could shift oversight from proactive approval to retrospective ATO review. He proposed a two-step process for NSPI to file a threshold-triggered letter to the Board when potential budget increases exceed a specified threshold.

please identify the jurisdiction, the applicable cap, and whether the cap applies generally or only in the absence of a risk matrix. Reference: Exhibit N-9, Evidence of John D. Wilson, pages 21 – 24. Preamble: Mr. Wilson reviewed NSPI’s pr...

AI summary Mr. John D. Wilson discusses concerns with NSPI’s proposed scope change, noting significant ambiguity and suggesting a two-step process for filing changes that may exceed a Board-specified threshold. The process includes submitting a letter with details on the change, budget impact, alternatives, and plans for revised applications.

Reliability-Related Projects On reliability-related projects, Mr. Wilson questions whether NS Power's new distribution right of way projects are as cost-effective as they could be. Specifically, he notes that since 2016, NS Power's four re...

AI summary Mr. Wilson questions the cost-effectiveness of NS Power's distribution right of way projects, noting that reliability metrics related to tree contacts have not improved since 2016. He suggests examining the issue in the ongoing third-party review of the Five-Year Reliability Plan. The Consumer Advocate supports this but raises concerns about NS Power's reliance on an outdated 40% estimate for adverse weather-related tree contacts.

Summary - 15 Ratepayers are facing significant financial hardships, both from electricity cost increases and - 16 general inflation as well as external pressures. The SBA respectfully submits that all of NS - 17 Power's expenditures should...

AI summary The SBA highlights the financial hardships faced by ratepayers due to rising electricity costs and inflation, urging NS Power to ensure cost savings through efficient management. It notes that a matter before the Board reviewing NS Power's 5-year Reliability Plan may assist in evaluating improvements.

ided. Compounding the noted $200 million increase in the capital spending envelope is the fact that the Reliability Tie, and other capital expenses expected from the IESO-NS, are tracked separately. The Reliability Tie expenses have been r...

AI summary The document discusses the fragmentation of capital costs in the 2026 ACE Plan, noting that the Reliability Tie and other IESO-NS-related expenses are excluded from the plan. Despite this exclusion, these costs will still be recovered from ratepayers, raising concerns about the transparency and prudence of the capital program.

No Rate Impact or Affordability Analysis NSPI confirmed that when developing its capital program, "specific rate impacts are not calculated" at the program level.[57](#page-15-0) Instead, rate impacts related to the capital program are sai...

AI summary NSPI stated that rate impacts are not calculated at the program level but included in the GRA. Affordability considerations are addressed at the individual asset level and through the GRA process. However, there is no evidence of a rate impact assessment or affordability analysis for the Reliability Plan or its Year 2 implementation.

A Direction for Comprehensive Reporting Is Warranted The Industrial Group submits that the Board should direct NSPI to file, alongside each future ACE Plan, a ratepayer cost exposure reporting that includes: - NSPI's ACE capital program (a...

AI summary The Industrial Group recommends that the Board require NSPI to provide detailed ratepayer cost exposure reports with each future ACE Plan, including capital programs, reliability intertie costs, and anticipated costs from IESO-NS, along with plain-language summaries of bill impacts.

ACE Plan is individually justified based on current condition assessments; NS Power does not work backward from predetermined spending targets. Where condition assessments indicate that projects can safely be deferred or require revised sc...

AI summary NS Power's 2026 ACE Plan is based on a risk-based, bottom-up approach to capital planning, ensuring investments align with asset condition and statutory obligations. Affordability is addressed through least-cost risk mitigation and the General Rate Application process. NS Power opposes caps on capital expenditures, arguing they could compromise service reliability and safety.

Project Justification and Cost Phase 11 continues the New Distribution Right of Way program, which has been consistently approved by the Board and remains a cornerstone of the Five-Year Reliability Plan's vegetation management strategy. Th...

AI summary Phase 11 of the New Distribution Right of Way program is part of the Five-Year Reliability Plan's vegetation management strategy. The unit cost of $43,200 per kilometer reflects NS Power's forecast, influenced by higher contractor operating costs and an expanded scope of work, including the removal of hazard trees outside the defined right-of-way edge.

2.2 Scope Change While considerable submissions have been made on this topic by the IG, NS Power maintains its position and continues to seek approval of its proposed version of the Summary CEJC as amended in NS Power's Rebuttal Evidence a...

AI summary NS Power maintains its position on the Summary CEJC as amended in its Rebuttal Evidence, seeking approval that balances regulatory oversight with efficiency, while addressing concerns raised by the IG.

2.5 Rate Impacts - The IG requests that the Board direct NS Power to file, alongside each future ACE Plan, a - consolidated ratepayer cost exposure report setting out the utility's ACE capital program, - Reliability Tie costs, known or rea...

AI summary The Intervenor Group (IG) requests that NS Power provide detailed ratepayer cost exposure reports with future ACE Plans and suggests that spending should be scrutinized for affordability and necessity. The IG also asks for a quantitative assessment of the Reliability Plan's impact on rates and overall affordability analysis for ratepayer classes.

tions that appear in annual ACE Plans, or a continued lack of quantifiable benefits over time related to the Five-Year Reliability Plan, for example, could cause the Board to reevaluate this position. [174] The foregoing discussion does no...

AI summary The document discusses the impact of escalating capital expenditures on rate pressures, noting that while capital approvals in the ACE Plan do not directly affect rates during the test period, the long-term financial implications and fairness to future ratepayers require careful review and consideration.

6.2 Regulatory Compact [179] Any analysis of what affordability means in the public utility context starts with the regulatory compact enshrined in the Public Utilities Act . In essence, in return for fulfilling an obligation to provide re...

AI summary The regulatory compact under the Public Utilities Act establishes that public utilities must provide safe, adequate, and reliable electricity service without discrimination, in exchange for recovering prudently incurred costs and a reasonable rate of return. Affordability is assessed based on whether the least costly option is selected to meet legislative or Board requirements, as seen in the CEJC framework and capital project approvals.

ORDER Nova Scotia Power Incorporated (NS Power) filed an application for approval of its 2026 Annual Capital Expenditure (ACE) Plan on December 12, 2025. The Board issued an Order on June 18, 2026, however, reserved the right to provide a...

AI summary NS Power submitted its 2026 ACE Plan, which was mostly approved by the Board, except for CI C0080111-2026 RTU Deployment. The Board deferred further consideration of that project pending a final report from Synapse Energy Consultants. The Board also issued directives for future ACE Plans, including updates and additional reporting requirements.

NS POWER PANEL 543 Questions, (Chair) 1 27, obviously, if the plan changed, the future GRAs would 2 have to consider it as well? 3 A. (Beaton) Certainly. 4 If well, I'll leave that Q. 5 aside. I'll ask it later or ask it in a different way...

AI summary The discussion centers on how changes to the Five-Year Reliability Plan may affect future General Rate Applications (GRAs) and whether feedback from ratepayers has been sought regarding potential improvements to performance metrics. NS Power mentions that performance standards will be reviewed, with customer representatives having an opportunity to provide feedback.