Topic:"Regulatory Approval Processes" in M12249

TO: The Nova Scotia Energy Board ("Energy Board") - 1. EfficiencyOne is the holder of the Franchise issued by the Minister of the Department of Energy with an effective date of January 01, 2025, to provide demand-side management activities...

AI summary EfficiencyOne is applying to the Nova Scotia Energy Board for approval of its 2026 DSM Extension Application, which includes updated targets, a rate and bill impact analysis, and amendments to the existing DSM Agreement. The application is supported by legislative changes to the Public Utilities Act, which extend the DSM Plan and Agreement to 2026 and set a prescribed investment amount.

- following factors in relation to regulatory decision-making function: 1 2 3 4 5 6 (2) In approving or fixing rates, tolls, charges, tariffs, capital applications and all other matters over which the Energy Board has authority, the Board...

AI summary The text outlines the Energy Board's regulatory decision-making function, emphasizing the need to support competition, innovation, sustainable development, and reliable energy supply in Nova Scotia, aligning with the More Access to Energy Act.

17 The Performance Targets will be achieved in accordance with the EECA Plan as set out 18 in Schedule E. \ \ \ For certainty, in accordance with the performance requirements set out in Schedule "C" attached hereto, EfficiencyOne shall be...

AI summary The Performance Targets will be achieved according to the EECA Plan outlined in Schedule E. EfficiencyOne is deemed to be in substantial compliance if it reaches the 90 percent level of achievement for each Performance Target. If not, a regulatory process will be triggered.

EFFICIENCYONE 2023-2026 DSM PLAN Supply Agreement Schedules 1 2 3 SCHEDULE E 4 5 EECA PLAN 6 7 [Subject to approval by the UARB/NSEB] 8 9 10 11 Appendix D Amended 2023-2026 Supply Agreement Schedules - Redline

AI summary This document outlines the supply agreement schedules for the EfficiencyOne 2023-2026 DSM Plan, which is subject to approval by the UARB/NSEB. It includes the EECA Plan and is part of an amended agreement with redline changes.

16 The Performance Targets will be achieved in accordance with the EECA Plan as set out 17 in Schedule E. \ \ \ For certainty, in accordance with the performance requirements set out in Schedule "C" attached hereto, EfficiencyOne shall be...

AI summary The Performance Targets will be achieved in accordance with the EECA Plan as set out in Schedule E. EfficiencyOne is deemed to be in substantial compliance if it meets 90% of the stipulated Performance Targets; otherwise, a regulatory process will be triggered.

Response IR-06: (a) EfficiencyOne (E1) included in the 2023-2025 DSM Plan an estimate of $4.0 million for the development of the 2026-2028 DSM Plan and the subsequent regulatory approval process. The estimate included E1's directly incurre...

AI summary EfficiencyOne (E1) estimated $4.0 million for the development of the 2026-2030 DSM Plan and related regulatory processes. Legislative changes, including the expansion of DSM Plan terms and E1's mandate to include strategic electrification, have led to unforeseen additional costs, such as third-party consulting and model adjustments.

Date Filed: June 25, 2025 E1 (IG) IR-10 Page 2 of 2 1 Request IR-11: 2 3 Reference: Page 23, Table 5: 2026 Program Savings and Investment. 4 5 (a) Please confirm that the residential energy efficiency programs cumulatively do not pass 6 th...

AI summary The document outlines a request and response regarding the total resource cost (TRC) test for residential energy efficiency and demand response programs. It confirms that residential programs have a cumulative TRC ratio of 0.9 and demand response programs have a ratio of 0.7. The response explains that individual program-level TRC tests are not required due to legislative requirements under the Public Utilities Act, and that the overall DSM portfolio meets the TRC threshold at 1.6.

1 Request IR-12: 2 3 Reference: Page 24 4 5 (a) Please confirm that the two directives (e) and (f) were two recommendations of the 6 Industrial Group in matter M10473. 7 8 (b) Please confirm that there is nothing explicit in these directiv...

AI summary Request IR-12 asks EfficiencyOne (E1) to confirm directives from the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, clarify compliance with multi-year plans, and provide details on cost-effectiveness testing and payback periods for measures in the DSM Plan. E1 responds that directives align with Industrial Group recommendations and that the 2026 DSM Extension is a continuation of the 2023-2025 plan.

E1 Responses to Nova Scotia Energy Board (NSEB) Information Requests BOARD ONLY CONFIDENTIAL 1 2

AI summary This document contains responses from EfficiencyOne to information requests by the Nova Scotia Energy Board (NSEB), marked as confidential and intended for the board's use only.

M12249 – EfficiencyOne (E1) Application for Approval of the 2026 DSM Extension 1 Request IR-03: 2 3 Pages 6 and 7 of the Evidence states, "To implement this commitment, commencing with the 4 2025 forecast as reported in the 2024 Annual Pro...

AI summary EfficiencyOne (E1) has submitted an application for the approval of the 2026 DSM Extension. In response to requests for information, E1 provided details about the 2024 and 2023 Annual Progress Reports and outlined its engagement with the DSMAG, including one-on-one meetings and a technical briefing.

Context - The provincial government introduced legislation in mid-February 2025. The legislation: - extends the 2023-2025 DSM plan to include the 2026 calendar year; - prescribes an investment amount of $63.75 million for 2026; and - requi...

AI summary The provincial government introduced legislation in mid-February 2025, extending the 2023-2025 DSM plan to include 2026, prescribing a $63.75 million investment, and requiring E1 to submit 2026 targets for Energy Board approval. The extension benefits stakeholders as it aligns with the new Energy Board's establishment and allows time for a new BCA decision before the 2027-2031 DSM Plan Application.

1 Table 1: E1 2026 DSM Extension: Enabling Strategies - Regulatory Affairs Estimates EfficiencyOne 2026 DSM Extension Enabling Strategies - Regulatory Affairs 2026 Activities 2026 Estimates Development of 2027-2031 DSM Plan & Compliance wi...

AI summary The text presents a table outlining the estimated costs for the 2026 DSM Extension, including activities such as the development of the 2027-2031 DSM Plan, compliance with directives, regular DSM matters, and support for the Integrated Resource Plan. Costs are categorized into E1 Costs and Flow Through Costs.

Date Filed: July 3, 2025 E1 (SBA) IR-02 Page 3 of 3 1 Request IR-03: 2 3 Refer to M12249, Exhibit E-2, 2024 Peach Report, Section IX, General Recommendations on 4 including Recommendation SVR24-G-4, which states at page 18: 5 6 SVR24-G-4....

AI summary EfficiencyOne (E1) responds to information requests from the Small Business Advocate (SBA), stating that it does not agree with a recommendation to reallocate funding from the Residential Behaviour program to BNI programs. E1 indicates that any changes to the 2026 DSM Extension would require approval from the Nova Scotia Energy Board (NSEB) and could impact performance targets.

Document: 321371 IRs on Verification Report (to Peach and E1) Thursday, June 19, 2025 Responses to IRs on Verification Report Thursday, July 3, 2025 Intervenor and Board Counsel Consultant Evidence Thursday, July 17, 2025 IRs to Intervenor...

AI summary The document outlines key dates and procedures for a regulatory proceeding, including submission deadlines and the application of the Board's Regulatory Rules, particularly Rule 7(3), which specifies a 2:00 pm deadline for filings on due dates.

The Notice of Paper Hearing will be advertised by posting it on the Board's website and posted to the Board's social media accounts. The Clerk of the Board will provide a copy of the Notice of Paper Hearing and Hearing Order to the list of...

AI summary The Notice of Paper Hearing for the electricity mandate proceeding will be advertised on the Board's website and social media. The Clerk of the Board will distribute copies of the Notice and Hearing Order to interested parties, including those involved in matter number M10473.

- [1] On April 30, 2025, EfficiencyOne (E1) applied to the Nova Scotia Energy Board to approve amendments to the Board-approved 2023-2025 DSM Agreement necessary to incorporate legislative changes to the Public Utilities Act directing that...

AI summary EfficiencyOne (E1) applied to the Nova Scotia Energy Board to extend the 2023-2025 DSM Agreement to 2026 with a plan cost of $63,750,000 and to approve performance targets. The Board approved the extension and provided directions for the development of a five-year DSM Plan for 2027-2031.

ORDER EfficiencyOne (E1) applied to the Nova Scotia Energy Board on April 30, 2025, for approval of amendments to the Board-approved 2023-2025 DSM Agreement necessary to incorporate legislative changes to the Public Utilities Act directing...

AI summary EfficiencyOne (E1) requested amendments to its 2023-2025 DSM Agreement to extend it to 2026 with a plan cost of $63.75 million. The Board approved the amendments and performance targets for 2026, while directing E1 to address concerns regarding its demand response programs and include cybersecurity-related impacts and PAC test results in its reports.

Document: 321371 IRs on Verification Report (to Peach and E1) Thursday, June 19, 2025 Responses to IRs on Verification Report Thursday, July 3, 2025 Intervenor and Board Counsel Consultant Evidence Thursday, July 17, 2025 IRs to Intervenor...

AI summary The document outlines the schedule for various stages of a regulatory proceeding, including submission deadlines and the application of the Board's Regulatory Rules, specifically Rule 7(3), which requires filings to be submitted by 2:00 pm on due dates.

The Notice of Paper Hearing will be advertised by posting it on the Board's website and posted to the Board's social media accounts. The Clerk of the Board will provide a copy of the Notice of Paper Hearing and Hearing Order to the list of...

AI summary The Notice of Paper Hearing for the electricity mandate proceeding will be advertised on the Board's website and social media. The Clerk of the Board will distribute the notice and Hearing Order to interested parties in matter number M10473. The document is dated May 13, 2025, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Background On March 25, 2025, the Government of Nova Scotia enacted a legislative amendment to the Public Utilities Act that extended the term of EfficiencyOne's ("E1") existing 2023-2025 DSM Plan, as well as E1's DSM Agreement with Nova S...

AI summary The Government of Nova Scotia amended the Public Utilities Act to extend EfficiencyOne's 2023-2025 DSM Plan and its agreement with NS Power until December 31, 2026, with a prescribed investment of $63,750,000. EfficiencyOne applied to the Energy Board for approval of its 2026 DSM targets and amendments to the DSM Purchase Agreement. The 2026 DSM Extension includes changes such as updated avoided cost assumptions and the termination of certain program components. Consultants Synapse and GEEG provided recommendations, with Synapse expressing concerns over data gaps and GEEG suggesting modifications.

The legislative amendment set out in s. 79J(3) of the Public Utilities Act, directs E1 to submit 2026 targets for the one-year extension of the existing DSM Plan. (3) The franchise holder shall submit its targets for the one-year extension...

AI summary The legislative amendment to the Public Utilities Act requires E1 to submit 2026 targets for the one-year extension of the existing DSM Plan. E1 argues that detailed program design and test methodology issues should be addressed in the upcoming 2027-2031 DSM Plan process. The Industrial Group, however, suggests a broader review of the extension application, including cost-effectiveness and spending management. E1 asserts that the current application provides sufficient information for approval.

ORDER EfficiencyOne (E1) applied to the Nova Scotia Energy Board on April 30, 2025, for approval of amendments to the Board-approved 2023-2025 DSM Agreement necessary to incorporate legislative changes to the Public Utilities Act directing...

AI summary EfficiencyOne applied to the Nova Scotia Energy Board for approval of amendments to its 2023-2025 DSM Agreement to extend it to 2026 with a plan cost of $63,750,000. The Board approved the amendments and performance targets for 2026, and directed E1 to address concerns with its demand response programs and include specific reporting requirements in its upcoming DSM Plan application.