Topic:"Rates And Money" in M12619

2026 Annual Capital Expenditure (ACE) Plan (NSEB M12619) NSPI Responses to Consumer Advocate Information Requests

AI summary The 2026 Annual Capital Expenditure (ACE) Plan by Nova Scotia Power Inc. (NSPI) is being analyzed in response to information requests from the Consumer Advocate. The plan outlines NSPI's capital spending proposals for the year 2026.

2026 Annual Capital Expenditure (ACE) Plan (NSEB M12619) NSPI Responses to Consumer Advocate Information Requests

AI summary This document outlines NSPI's responses to information requests from the Consumer Advocate regarding the 2026 Annual Capital Expenditure (ACE) Plan, which is part of the NSEB proceeding M12619.

WACC Rate 5.08% WACC Rate 5.08% Total Capital Investment $ 152,219,020 $ 8,328,000 $ 14,152,000 $ 8,047,000 $ 38,423,000 $ 4,545,000 $ 788,314 $ 2,986,583 $ 5,155,301 $ 1,792,639 $ 1,218,994 $ 1,647,471 $ 317,060 $ 323,402 $ 461,818 $ 1,34...

AI summary The text presents a WACC rate of 5.08% and includes detailed tables with figures related to total capital investment and NPV for various projects and locations such as Dickie Brook, Sustaining, Fall River, and Lequille. These figures include monetary values and breakdowns of different components.

NON-CONFIDENTIAL D061 2025 2026 Salvage (14,151) (16,125) 0% (19,983) Total 47,539,628 43,242,059 123% 41,649,467 Customer Recovery 135,539 74,363 0% 140,829 Capital Contributions (8,184,891) (8,147,039) -23% (5,727,197) Overall Total 39,4...

AI summary The text presents financial data tables for 2025 and 2026, showing figures related to salvage, total amounts, customer recovery, capital contributions, and overall totals. The data includes budget and actuals for various cost categories such as labour, materials, contracts, and overheads. These tables are likely part of a financial reporting or regulatory proceeding.

SECTION A: Your Rate Components Basic Industry Rate: $2.46 Experience Rating Merit/Demerit: $0.29 see details in Section D below Rate Surcharge: $0.00 Levy $0.14 TOTAL RATE for 2025 $2.89 per $100 assessable payroll Note: Your company's wo...

AI summary The document outlines the rate components for 2025, including a basic industry rate, experience rating adjustment, levy, and total rate per $100 assessable payroll. The experience rating adjustment is influenced by workplace injuries and the cost of associated injuries.

Your 2025 rate could have been as low as: $1.82 or as high as: $4.13 SECTION B: SIC and Industry Group SECTION C: Cost and Payro To set rates s, we classify employers by the industry in which Assessable Payroll te, and group industries wit...

AI summary The text discusses potential 2025 rate ranges, from $1.82 to $4.13, and includes a table with data on assessable payroll and injury costs related to industry classifications and experience ratings.

SECTION A: Your Rate Components $2.68 Basic Industry Rate: see details in Section D below $0.33 Experience Rating Merit/Demerit: $0.00 Rate Surcharge: $0.15 Levy per $100 assessable payroll TOTAL RATE for 2024 $3.16 Note: Your company's wo...

AI summary This section outlines the rate components for a basic industry rate in 2024, including a base rate, experience rating adjustments, and levies. The total rate is determined by workplace injuries and the associated costs, with the potential for adjustment based on injury prevention and return-to-work practices.

Your 2024 rate could have been as low as: $1.97 or as high as: $4.49 SECTION B: SIC and Industry Group SECTION C: Cost and Payroll To set rate s, we classify employers by the industry in which Assessable Payroll they opera ate, and group i...

AI summary This document outlines the potential range for 2024 rates, from $1.97 to $4.49, and includes sections on industry classification, payroll, and injury costs related to construction and infrastructure.

Experience Rating for 2024 is calculated using injury and payroll data from the years 2020 to 2022. The 3-year costs and payroll are determined, and costs are weighted so that the more recent experience has more impact on rates. The key me...

AI summary The document discusses the calculation of Experience Rating for 2024 based on injury and payroll data from 2020 to 2022, with a focus on the cost ratio and its impact on rates. It also references the 2026 Annual Capital Expenditure (ACE) Plan and includes details about a project by Nova Scotia Power Incorporated.

Your 2023 rate could have been as low as: $2.01 or as high as: $4.58 SECTION B: SIC and Industry Group SECTION C: Cost and Payroll To set rates, we classify employers by the industry in which Assessable Payroll they operate, and group indu...

AI summary This section provides information on the potential range of 2023 rates, along with data on assessable payroll and industry classification for employers, including details on injury costs from 2019 to 2021.

2026 ACE Plan NSEB IR-71 Attachment 1 Page 31 of 139 REDACTED (CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION REMOVED) Appendix A

AI summary The text is a page from an attachment to an information request (IR-71) related to the 2026 Annual Capital Expenditure (ACE) Plan submitted to the Nova Scotia Energy Board (NSEB). It includes an appendix but does not provide specific details due to redaction.

Your 2024 rate could have been as low as: $2.39 or as high as: $5.46 SECTION C: Cost and Payroll Assessable Payroll 2022 $760,791.00 2021 $1,129,803.00 2020 $914,692.00 TOTAL $2,805,286.00 Cost of New Injuries from 2020 to 2022 $440.40 Ass...

AI summary The document presents a range for the 2024 rate, from $2.39 to $5.46, and includes tables with assessable payroll and cost of new injuries from 2020 to 2022. It also references an experience rating details section.

Your 2023 rate could have been as low as: $2.38 or as high as: $5.42 SECTION B: SIC and Industry Group SECTION C: Cost and Payroll To set rates, we classify employers by the industry in which Assessable Payroll they operate, and group indu...

AI summary The document outlines potential 2023 rates ranging from $2.38 to $5.42, with a focus on classifying employers by industry and calculating assessable payroll and injury costs for rate determination.

89W: Circuit Load Data Figure 5: Feeder Circuit Load History – Bridgewater East (89W)

AI summary This section presents the circuit load history for the Bridgewater East (89W) feeder circuit, illustrated in Figure 5. It provides a visual representation of historical load data for the circuit, which is essential for understanding the electrical demand patterns in the area.

4.1.1/

AI summary The section 4.1.1/ of the document outlines the context and background for the proceeding, including relevant regulatory frameworks and key stakeholders involved in the matter.

4.1.1/

AI summary The section 4.1.1/ of the document outlines the context and background for the proceeding, including relevant regulatory frameworks and key stakeholders involved in the matter.

REDACTED 2026 ACE Plan NSEB IR-116 Attachment 1 Page 42 of 52 Test 4 Not Applicable (6,657.0) 41,742.8 1,001,828.0 (5,796.8) - 40,073.1 961,754.9 (6,796.8) - 40,073.1 961,754.9 (6,796.8) - 38,470.2 923,284.7 (7,985.3) - 36,931.4 886,353.3...

AI summary The text appears to be a redacted section of an attachment from the 2026 Annual Capital Expenditure (ACE) Plan, related to the Nova Scotia Energy Board (NSEB) and the Integrated Resource Plan (IR-116). It contains a table with numerical values, likely representing financial or operational data, but the content is heavily redacted and lacks detailed discussion or context.

Divi: Dep get Year : sion : artment : inator : 2004 Date : CI Number: Project No. : F 30-No ov-06 42 - 3,926.6 94,237.2 - 1,351.0 1,351.0 0.076 102.9 43 - 3,769.5 90,467.7 - 1,297.0 1,297.0 0.071 92.3 544 - 3,618.7 86,849.0 - 1,245.1 0.067...

AI summary The text contains a table with various financial and operational data, including revenue, operating costs, capital, CCA, CFBI, applicable taxes, CFAI, discount factors, and PV OT CF for the years 2004 to 2007. The data appears to be related to a financial analysis or regulatory proceeding.

NON-CONFIDENTIAL 1 reconductoring the line. NS Power believes that this update will provide additional clarity 2 and remove subjectivity to that existed prior to the update. Date Filed: February 13, 2026 NSPI (NSEB) IR-149 Page 2 of 2

AI summary NS Power proposes an update to reconductoring the line, claiming it will provide clarity and reduce subjectivity in the process.

2026 Annual Capital Expenditure (ACE) Plan (NSEB M12619) NSPI Responses to NSEB Information Requests 1 Request IR-161: 14 known variances. 15 16 (ii) In NS Power's 2026-2027 General Rate Application (GRA) partial 17 decommissioning had bee...

AI summary NSPI's response to NSEB's information request discusses the 2026-2027 General Rate Application (GRA) and the definition of partial decommissioning. It clarifies that decommissioning does not include water retaining structures, but ongoing investment is required for their management. NS Power acknowledged that costs could be higher if such structures require investment and did not include cost recovery for partial decommissioning in the proposed depreciation rates.

- Refer the Application, Page 137 of 782, Line 13-19, Section 11.4 Quick Reference Sheet, sub- - section entitled "2026 O/H Rates" reproduced in the table below:

AI summary The document references an application with a section on '2026 O/H Rates' as outlined in a quick reference sheet, indicating a focus on rate-related considerations for the year 2026.

2026 O/H Rates Generation Customer Operations Shared Services PP Regular 37.25% Regular 53.98% IT 56.12% Hydro 88.84% Contract 10.45% Contract 9.43% Vehicle 32.18% (a) Does the reference to "PP Regular" in this table mean Power Plant gener...

AI summary A question is raised about the meaning of 'PP Regular' in a table related to 2026 O/H Rates, specifically whether it refers to Power Plant generation.

Note 2: This report has been amended to reflect the new Board approval threshold of $1,000,000, effective October 30, 2019. T

AI summary This note indicates that the report has been updated to reflect a new Board approval threshold of $1,000,000, which became effective on October 30, 2019.

May 2, 2025 Ms. Crystal Henwood Regulatory Affairs Officer/Clerk Nova Scotia Energy Board 1601 Lower Water Street, 3rd Floor P.O. Box 1692, Unit "M" Halifax, NS B3J 3S3 Re: M10400 CI46075 – IT – T&D WAM Phase 2 – Work Management and Schedu...

AI summary NS Power submitted a benefits report for its IT – T&D WAM Phase 2 project, which was approved by the Nova Scotia Energy Board in 2022. The project was expected to yield $38.9 million in operational cost savings over 15 years. The report outlines the functionalities and process improvements that would lead to these savings.

2 M10400, NSUARB, NS Power CI 46075 – IT – T&D WAM Phase 2 - Work Management and Scheduling & Dispatch Application, January 14, 2022, page 33. Benefit Cumulative NPV Benefits over 15 years ($M) Auto-Scheduling & Optimization $18.7 Contract...

AI summary The document outlines the projected benefits of implementing a new Work Management and Scheduling & Dispatch Application for NS Power. It highlights the cumulative NPV benefits over 15 years, noting that the new system differs significantly from the old WAM systems, making direct comparisons challenging. Accurate benefit tracking requires metrics that account for changes in work volumes and workforce composition.

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 (IG) urges the Board to require NSPI to provide detailed ratepayer cost exposure reporting in future ACE Plans, including capital program costs, reliability intertie costs, and IESO-NS-related expenses. NS Power argues that such analysis is not feasible due to uncertainties and complexities in estimating revenue requirements. The Board previously questioned the usefulness of this information and may reconsider based on recent developments and the Energy and Regulatory Boards Act.

6.5 Need to Consider Rate Impacts and A Potential Framework [187] The Board still has some concerns about the utility of a rate impact analysis, where the full set of studies and data available in a GRA are not readily reproduced on an ann...

AI summary The Board acknowledges concerns about the utility of rate impact analysis but emphasizes its importance in the context of increasing capital expenditures for decarbonization and reliability. It directs NS Power to provide a rate impact analysis for the 2027 ACE Plan, focusing on the impact of capital expenditures on rates for 2028-2030. The analysis should be done by rate class and include proposed ACE Plan capital expenditures, excluding the NB Intertie project.

26 2026 O/H Rates Generation Customer Operations Shared Services PP Regular 37.25% Regular 53.98% IT 56.12% Hydro 88.84% Contract 10.45% Contract 9.43% Vehicle 32.18% - 30 a) Does the reference to "PP Regular" in this table mean Power Plan...

AI summary The document raises questions about the 2026 O/H Rates for different generation and operations categories, including PP Regular, Hydro Generation, and IT Shared Services. It asks for clarifications on terminology, the discrepancy in rates, and potential procurement strategies to reduce these rates.

- 28 (a) Please explain the variance in forecasted total expense between the 2025 29 ACE Plan and the 2026 ACE Plan for each of the following projects, 1 2 including key drivers (scope, schedule, vendor costs, resourcing, cyber related req...

AI summary The document requests an explanation of the variance in forecasted total expense between the 2025 and 2026 ACE Plans for specific IT projects, including the impact of the 2025 cybersecurity breach, reconciliation of project treatment, and an explanation of the significant increase in spending and number of under-£1M projects in 2026.

1 2 3 Given the noted additional scope items, and stated potential impact to the "direction" and "timeline" for this project, does NSPI anticipate filing a scope change application for the C0021835 - IT – CIS Replacement project? If so, wh...

AI summary The text includes regulatory requests related to a scope change application for a project and an affordability analysis for the 2026 ACE Plan. It references the Five-Year Reliability Plan Update and asks NSPI to provide details about projects, their budgets, and reliability enhancements.

-Year Reliability Plan Update. Preamble: The Board directed NSPI to provide annual updates on the Five-Year Reliability Plan in each ACE Plan filing. NSPI states it has updated the Plan for 2026. 1. Please describe the process NSPI used to...

AI summary The document requests NSPI to provide updates on the Five-Year Reliability Plan for 2026, including the process used, changes from the 2025 Plan, and reasons for unchanged investment amounts. It also asks about the retirement date for Lingan 2, capital investments, related projects, and how IESO-NS procurement efforts influenced the decision.

19 Request IR-32: 21 Reference: 2024 ACE Plan Rebuttal Evidence, p. 17, stating, "NS Power will continue to assess 22 how this data could be obtained," referencing a recommendation to breakdown distribution costs 23 into four new categorie...

AI summary The document requests NS Power to describe actions taken since April 2024 to assess acquiring historical and forecast distribution cost data for four categories, including new customers, load capacity increases, unmetered services, and external factors. NS Power notes that it has data from the Conference Board of Canada but lacks internal tracking for residential additions.

The more a supplier is aware of NS Power's specific requirements and competing vendor's costs, the better the supplier's ability to obtain the highest price, reduce competition and ultimately increase the cost for NS Power and customers. I...

AI summary NS Power argues that disclosing supplier pricing and arrangements could lead to higher costs for customers by reducing competition and enabling suppliers to demand higher prices. Maintaining confidentiality is seen as beneficial to customers because rates are cost-based.

rall "intent" of the project. The IG believes that such definitions, and related limitations are inappropriate. The IG, therefore, submitted that NS Power's proposed definitions should not be adopted. [107] Instead, the IG submitted that N...

AI summary The IG argues that NS Power's proposed definitions for scope changes are inappropriate and should not be adopted. Instead, the IG recommends that the scope change application process should be guided by the original project scope definition, ensuring alignment with cost minimization efforts and early-stage project management practices.

3.2.1 Findings [110] NS Power believes that its proposed definition for Scope Change provides an appropriate regulatory balance, recognizing that the ATO and FIN processes would capture project Scope Changes beyond those that would be incl...

AI summary NS Power argues that its proposed definition for Scope Change provides adequate regulatory balance, as ATO and FIN processes would capture project changes. However, the IG counters that Scope Changes are meant for advance oversight, not after-the-fact financial review. NS Power notes that many ATO applications are filed after work has been committed or completed.

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 (IG) argues that the Board should require NSPI to provide detailed ratepayer cost exposure reports with each future ACE Plan, including capital programs, reliability intertie costs, and IESO-NS-related costs. NS Power opposes this, citing the complexity and uncertainty in estimating such impacts. The Board previously questioned the usefulness of including revenue requirement estimates in ACE Plans and may revisit the issue in light of new developments and the Energy and Regulatory Boards Act.

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.

6.5 Need to Consider Rate Impacts and A Potential Framework [187] The Board still has some concerns about the utility of a rate impact analysis, where the full set of studies and data available in a GRA are not readily reproduced on an ann...

AI summary The Board acknowledges concerns about the utility of rate impact analysis but believes it could provide useful context for the Five-Year Reliability Plan and annual ACE Plans. It directs NS Power to provide a rate impact analysis for the 2027 ACE Plan, focusing on the projected impact of capital expenditures on rates for 2028–2030. The analysis should address proposed ACE Plan capital expenditures, excluding the NB Intertie project, which is already approved.

NOVA SCOTIA ENERGY BOARD IN THE MATTER OF: THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT - and - IN THE MATTER OF: OF A GENERAL RATE APPLICATION BY NOVA SCOTIA POWER INCORPORATED (NS Power) for approval of approximately $284 million of its ANNUAL CAPITAL EXPEN...

AI summary The Nova Scotia Energy Board is considering a general rate application by Nova Scotia Power Incorporated (NS Power) seeking approval for its 2026 Annual Capital Expenditure (ACE) Plan, which totals approximately $702.1 million.

I N D E X O F P R O C E E D I N G S April 21, 2026 PAGE NO. 14 appending deadlines relating to environmental emissions 15 legislation, we must also deal with the significant cost 16 burden faced by ratepayers, both with respect to energy 1...

AI summary The text discusses the financial and regulatory challenges related to ratepayer costs, including the impact of the General Rate Application and anticipated Fee Recovery Application from IESO Nova Scotia. It emphasizes the need for careful assessment of expenditures and the importance of ensuring that investments lead to reliability and resiliency without increasing the burden on ratepayers.

OPENING STATEMENT 27 NS DEPT. OF ENERGY 1 the burden of those overruns falls onto ratepayers. 2 For example, some of the hydro plants 3 produce minimal energy and yet work on them has often 4 proceeded in the face of significant cost overr...

AI summary The Department of Energy highlights concerns over cost overruns in hydro plant projects and calls for regulatory scrutiny of the 2026 ACE Plan, emphasizing the need for accountability and alignment with the IESO mandate. It also requests the Board to disallow ratepayer funding for certain projects, arguing that financial consequences should be borne by shareholders, not ratepayers.

NS POWER PANEL 43 In-ch, (Power) 1 integrity programs. Since then, I've held several roles 6 Scotia Power in this matter; is that correct? 7 (Pickles) Yes, that's correct. A. 8 And that evidence includes Nova Q. 9 Scotia Power's Applicatio...

AI summary The document outlines Nova Scotia Power's 2026 Annual Capital Expenditure Plan (ACE Plan), highlighting the company's commitment to safe and reliable electricity delivery. It includes evidence submitted by Nova Scotia Power, including their application, responses to information requests, and rebuttal evidence, all prepared under the direction of the panel.

NOVA SCOTIA ENERGY BOARD IN THE MATTER OF: THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT - and - IN THE MATTER OF: OF A GENERAL RATE APPLICATION BY NOVA SCOTIA POWER INCORPORATED (NS Power) for approval of approximately $284 million of its ANNUAL CAPITAL EXPEN...

AI summary The Nova Scotia Energy Board is considering a general rate application by Nova Scotia Power Incorporated (NS Power) for approval of its 2026 Annual Capital Expenditure (ACE) Plan, which totals approximately $702.1 million.

I N D E X O F P R O C E E D I N G S PAGE NO. 9 real quick question here. In response to Board IR-3(f), 10 Nova Scotia Power provided a spreadsheet with this table. 11 And I can get Rob to call it up for 12 you if you want, but for 2024 the...

AI summary A discussion arises regarding a discrepancy in a spreadsheet provided by Nova Scotia Power, specifically the 2024 figure of 487.2 million, which differs from other years. The participants question whether this is an error and agree to undertake a review to confirm the correct figure.

NS POWER PANEL 383 Questions, (Murphy) 1 order to be comparable at this particular scoring your 2 least favourable option would get a third 3 (Drover) Of 40. A. 4 of 40. Q. 5 (Drover) Yes. A. 6 Which I don't know it may Q. 7 it could happe...

AI summary The text discusses a regulatory proceeding involving NS Power, focusing on scoring and weighting methodologies used in evaluating options, particularly the cost scoring for different options, including the retaining wall option and the preferred option. The discussion emphasizes the methodology recommended by CBCL and the potential for critique by the Board.

INTERNATIONAL REPORTING INC. CERTIFIED COURT REPORTERS 1 had to they've been forced to increase their rates 2 fairly substantially over the last number of years in 3 order to maintain a full complement of resources, which is 4 remains a st...

AI summary The speaker discusses the significant increase in costs per kilometre for a service, rising from $56,000 in 2023 to $97,000 in 2024 and then to $119,000 in 2025, which exceeds inflation rates. The speaker expresses confusion about the discrepancy in numbers presented in the table compared to other data sources.

NS POWER PANEL 541 Questions, (Chair) 1 put the page number on this one. So it's IR-182, Board 2 IR-182. Okay. And it's (a). 3 BY THE CHAIR: 4 And the question was: Q. 5 6 7 8 9 Given that the Plan is projected to cost approximately $1.3 [...

AI summary The Chair of the NS Power Panel 541 questions whether NS Power has calculated the impact on rates from the Five-Year Reliability Plan, which is projected to cost approximately $1.3 billion over five years. The answer indicates that the investment is included in the General Rate Application (GRA) before the NSEB in matter M12451 and that the plan follows a least-cost approach to meet performance standards by 2029.

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.

WILSON 601 1 but I can't recall the details of that to mind 2 immediately. But, you know, the idea being that, you 3 know, there's an expectation that each utility, say, is 4 going to need a certain kind of circuit breaker, maybe two 5 or...

AI summary The text discusses a strategy for procuring circuit breakers in advance to achieve cost minimization, involving collaboration among utilities and requiring expertise in planning to avoid excessive inventory. The discussion occurs during a regulatory proceeding, with Mr. Wilson and Mr. Kayter participating.