Topic:"Rates And Money" in M13074

2 nd September 2026 Appellant Joanna A. Hammersley Decision Date 22nd August 2026 Account Work Order #6873680 Utility Nova Scotia Power Inc. Dispute Resolution Officer Don Farmer, P.Eng. Subject Additional Customer Contribution Invoice dat...

AI summary This document outlines a dispute involving an additional customer contribution invoice issued by Nova Scotia Power Inc. to Joanna A. Hammersley, with a total amount of $7,822.50. The invoice includes an equipment charge of $13,771.42, with a subsequent reduction of $443.69 applied by the utility.

The point of this appeal This should not be complicated. NSP seeks to charge thousands of dollars more for the hire and use of a piece of heavy machinery, commonly known as a "backhoe", used to install electricity poles in their vertical p...

AI summary NSP is appealing to charge significantly more for the use of a backhoe in installing electricity poles, claiming actual costs were 290% of the original allowance. However, they have not provided sufficient evidence to support this claim, and their estimate of $13,771.42 seems excessive compared to a calculated estimate of $3,800.

1. The DRO approved the bill after being told by NSP that it was being revised This is the first problem. And it is a very significant one. The disputed invoice dated 27 April 2026 was for $7,822.50 including HST 1 . During the dispute pro...

AI summary The DRO approved a disputed bill for $7,822.50 despite NSP revising the amount to $6,418.15 during the dispute process. NSP confirmed the new total and stated the account had been billed appropriately, but the DRO still approved the original bill.

How so? There is almost a comic evidentiary irony here. NSP's principal point of contact (Derek) directly told the DRO that the amount was being reduced and a replacement bill would be issued. Yet the DRO proceeded to approve the original...

AI summary The document highlights a discrepancy between NSP's communication to the DRO regarding a revised bill and the DRO's approval of the original invoice. The revised bill has not been received, and NSP continues to pursue the original amount based on the DRO's decision, which does not address the inconsistency.

How did that happen? Where did these "actuals" come from? - If the underlying records existed, why did NSP say it did not have the details? - If they did not exist, what is the evidentiary basis for the spreadsheet? - If the figures were r...

AI summary The text questions the origin and validity of the 'actuals' used by NSP to justify an additional charge, raising concerns about the evidentiary basis and transparency of the data provided.

For a machine present for approximately twenty hours? That requires an explanation. Not another label. Not another spreadsheet. The underlying records. - Who supplied the machine? we already know, but require NSP's confirmation for the rec...

AI summary The text questions the justification for a $4,752.75 backhoe allowance and its increase to $13,771.42, requesting clarification on the machine's usage, rates, and additional charges. It also notes a discrepancy between the original allowance and the 2026 Town & Country rate of $145/hour, suggesting the need for the Board to investigate both figures.

5. The project had been extensively scoped This was not an unknown site encountered for the first time when construction began. NSP attended, inspected or scoped the Project on at least: - 23 June 2023 - 5 July 2023 - 11 September 2023 - 8...

AI summary The project site had been previously inspected and scoped multiple times by NSP prior to construction. The 12 August 2024 Building Site Quote is described as an estimate, not a fixed quotation. The document does not establish proof of cost, entitlement, or proper allocation to the work order or customer.

7. What, exactly, did the DRO decide? The dispute was not whether Regulation 2.6 exists. It was not whether the original quote contained the word "estimate". It was whether NSP had substantiated the particular additional amount it sought t...

AI summary The DRO decision focuses on whether NSP substantiated the additional charges it sought to impose. The decision states that NSP appropriately billed the customer as of 27 April 2026, but the DRO was also informed that NSP reviewed the figures and intended to adjust the bill accordingly, raising questions about how these positions were reconciled.

It does not. Where does it explain the $9,018.67 backhoe increase and cost variance? It does not. 5 DRO Final Written Decision August 22nd, 2026 (Appendix 5) Where does it explain why the bill NSP said would be replaced, was nevertheless a...

AI summary The text discusses the lack of explanation regarding a $9,018.67 backhoe increase and cost variance, as well as the approval of a bill that NSP claimed would be replaced. It references a DRO Final Written Decision from August 22nd, 2026.

8. The board should require the evidence — not guess at it The Board does not need to conduct a general audit of NSP. It needs to decide a much narrower question: Did the DRO establish, with evidence from NSP, that the additional costs cla...

AI summary The Board is advised not to conduct a general audit of NSP but instead focus on whether the DRO provided sufficient evidence from NSP that the additional costs for Work Order #6873680 were incurred and properly attributable to the Project. The Board should ensure that records exist, and if not, NSP should explain the situation.

10. Relief requested - 1. Set aside the Final Written Decision of the Dispute Resolution Officer. - 2. Determine that the additional backhoe variance of $9,018.67 has not been substantiated and direct that this amount be removed from the a...

AI summary The relief requested includes setting aside a Dispute Resolution Officer's decision, removing unsubstantiated charges, correcting an account, and requiring Nova Scotia Power to refund any credit balance. The request also asks for clarification on any remaining amounts due.

Nova Scotia Power Inc. PO Box 848. Halifax Nova Scotia B3J 2V7 Any questions? Please call us at 1-800-428-6230 Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm www.nspower.ca Account Numbe Amount due May 27 $7,822.50 JOANNA A HAMMERSLEY Service addres...

AI summary Nova Scotia Power Inc. has issued a revised invoice for a customer, Joanna Hammersley, for additional costs related to a line extension and service connection. The invoice has been adjusted based on a review of actual costs, including a reduction in labour and removal of an 'other' cost. NS Power maintains that the account has been billed appropriately.

Good morning – Please see the below details pertaining to the information and documents requested, as well as the attachments. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, and have a safe day, Ashley Wilson Credit Services – Commercial A...

AI summary A message from Ashley Wilson of Nova Scotia Power providing information and documents in response to a request, with an offer to answer any questions. The message is part of a regulatory proceeding.

Accordingly, please provide: - 1. A complete explanation of the methodology by which the additional amount now claimed has been calculated, including reconciliation between: - the original quotation; (Please see attached) - the Nova Scotia...

AI summary The document requests detailed explanations and documentation regarding the calculation of an additional invoice of $7,822.50, including methodology, cost breakdowns, and supporting records. The responding party provides limited information, stating they do not keep job notes or approvals and attribute the cost overrun to increased backhoe costs.

Cheque or Money Order Payable to Nova Scotia Power Inc., Attn: Planning Coordinator and submitted to: 91 Lahave St., PO Box 10

AI summary The text provides instructions for submitting a cheque or money order payable to Nova Scotia Power Inc., specifying the recipient and address for submission.

GETTING YOU CONNECTED Your Building Site Quote Detail priced quote for 481m 1 phase line extension and new service connection with TCP for backhoe work only.

AI summary A detailed quote for a 481m single-phase line extension and new service connection with TCP for backhoe work only is provided for a building site.

The total price is an estimate only. Upon completion of the job, actual costs & applicable taxes will be reviewed and, if necessary, you will be billed accordingly. [email protected] Additional costs such as rock breaki...

AI summary The text indicates that the total price provided is an estimate and that actual costs and applicable taxes will be reviewed post-job completion, with potential billing if necessary. Additional costs such as rock breaking, civil work, or non-NSP costs are not included in the estimate.

Cheque or Money Order Payable to Nova Scotia Power Inc., Attn: Planning Coordinator and submitted to: 91 Lahave St., PO Box 10 Bridgewater, NS B4V 2W6

AI summary The text provides payment instructions for Nova Scotia Power Inc., specifying that cheques or money orders should be made payable to the company and sent to a specific address in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.

Your Dispute in summary is: that Joanna Hammersley is the Account holder related to this dispute (Account that Charlton Kurtz has been give consent by the N.S.Power Account holder to allow DRO access to her Account information; that you di...

AI summary The dispute involves Joanna Hammersley, the account holder, who disputes an 'Additional Customer Contribution Invoice' issued by NSP for a line extension on 2nd Peninsula Rd. NSP claims the invoice is due to increased backhoe costs, but Hammersley argues that NSP did not provide a reconciliation of the original quote and the additional invoice. The work was completed in 2025, and the invoice was issued in 2026.

ns or role as an Auditor. My Decisions are binding on Nova Scotia Power but not on the Customer. Customers may appeal my Decisions (within 12 days of receipt of Final Written Decision) to the Board. Your Dispute in summary is: that Joanna...

AI summary The dispute involves Joanna Hammersley as the account holder and Charlton Kurtz, who was granted access to her account. The customer disputes an additional invoice issued by NSP for a line extension project, citing discrepancies between the original quote and the final cost, and lack of reconciliation or transparency from NSP.

tated that "The cost overrun is due to the increased backhoe costs, which can be shown in the invoice actuals.' NSP therefore identifies increased backhoe costs as the basis of the Additional Invoice" Board approved Regulation 2.6 states i...

AI summary The Dispute Resolution Officer (DRO) has ruled that Nova Scotia Power (NSP) appropriately billed a customer for a line extension based on Board Regulation 2.6. The cost overrun was attributed to increased backhoe costs, as evidenced by invoices. The customer may appeal the decision to the Nova Scotia Energy Board.

ve their consent to release their personal information to Charlton Krentz as their agent and to the DRO. This is referenced on pages 29 of 34 in the DRO file attached as Confidential Attachment 1. - August 21, 2026 NS Power provided its po...

AI summary NS Power billed a customer for line extension work, adjusting the amount after reviewing actual costs. The DRO ruled in favor of NS Power, and the customer's agent appealed the decision to the NSEB. NS Power supports the DRO's decision, citing Regulation 2.6.

NS Power agrees with the DRO's decision that the customer has been appropriately billed for line extension work. This position is supported by Regulation 2.6, and Confidential Attachments 1 and 2 . The initial estimate provided to the cust...

AI summary NS Power agrees with the DRO's decision that a customer was appropriately billed for line extension work, citing Regulation 2.6 and confidential attachments. The final invoice from a third-party subcontractor increased the cost, but NS Power reduced the charge by applying internal labour cost reductions.