Lepreau incident required a crew to enter reactor building to fix heavy water leak
Utility says 'all radiation protection procedures and dose limits for staff' were met
In response to a series of questions about the heavy water spill, N.B. Power's Dominique Couture said in a statement "three authorized and qualified staff" were outfitted to enter the reactor containment building where an unknown amount of heavy water was escaping from a tube about half the width of a household garden hose.
"The leak was stopped manually by crimping the tubing, which took a little over 30 minutes," according to Couture.
"All safety precautions were taken and safety protocols were followed."
The
Point Lepreau nuclear generating station remains offline a week after a
pair of incidents at the plant. A partial loss of power followed by the
discovery of a heavy water leak hours later remain under investigation. (Submitted by NB Power)
A pair of events at the nuclear plant last week forced the generator offline indefinitely with no clear explanation yet of exactly what happened.
Official accounts from N.B. Power and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission have been light on details, and to date include no mention of a crew needing to enter the reactor building to manually fix a leaking pipe.
Volume of heavy water involved unclear
In the early morning hours of Dec. 14 N.B. Power reported that a "partial loss of power" to the station, which at the time was running at full capacity, initiated a complete shutdown. Several hours later it was discovered heavy water was also leaking from a pipe inside the reactor building.
According to Couture, it is still unclear whether the two events are connected to each other or coincidental.
"The investigation is still ongoing," she wrote.
Also unclear is how much heavy water was involved in the leak which occurred in what N.B. Power called a 3/8ths-inch diameter "instrument line" that is part of the station's "heat transport system."
Heavy water is similar to ordinary water, but is about 10 per cent more dense because of a difference in the makeup of its hydrogen atom. It is not radioactive, but can be contaminated with tritium after prolonged use in an operating nuclear plant. Tritium can be hazardous if ingested or inhaled.
N.B.
Power has been relying on the Coleson Cove oil-fired generating station
in Saint John to replace some of the power normally generated by Point
Lepreau. Utility figures show electricity from oil is almost 20 times
more expensive to produce than from nuclear fuel. (Roger Cosman/CBC)
When it is running, the Lepreau heat transport system circulates something under 200,000 litres of heavy water, at high pressure, through an elaborate piping system that allows it to take heat generated in the reactor and transport it to a set of steam boilers in a continuous loop. Normal water in the boilers is turned into steam, which is used to rotate the station's electricity-producing turbines.
Inside the transport system, heavy water reaches temperatures above 250 C and operates under pressures of 1,200 pounds per square inch, about 20 times greater than an average kitchen tap.
Radiation fields in 'normal range'
Couture said the leak was fixed "within hours" of being identified, but says how much heavy water escaped before that happened has not been calculated. Complicating the measurement, she said, was that spilled heavy water has been collected and returned into the heat transport system.
"The specific quantity is not known, but an inventory will be done," she said
Radiation fields inside the reactor building during the repair were "in the normal range," according to Couture, but there were elevated levels of "airborne tritium" from the heavy water spill.
She said the three employees sent to fix the leak were each wearing protective plastic suits with independent air supplies for safety and had radiation survey instrumentation with them.
Charles
Firlotte, N.B. Power chairman, blamed a 39-day unscheduled shutdown of
Lepreau in January and February 2021 for the utility missing its profit
and debt reduction targets that year. The utility estimates a mid-winter
outage at the plant costs it up to $8 million a week. (CBC)
"All radiation protection procedures and dose limits for staff were adhered to during this work." she said.
It is at least the second heavy water spill at Lepreau.
In 2011, "between four and six litres" of heavy water were dropped in the reactor building as it was being refilled.
The incident caused problems when an air lock door malfunctioned and could not be opened for two hours, with the crew cleaning the spill still inside.
However, that spill occurred while the reactor was still being refurbished and had not been operational for more than three years.
N.B. Power has not said yet how long it expects the nuclear plant to be offline. It is normally the utility's largest generator of electricity and outside of N.B. Power's fleet of hydro electric dams is the cheapest to operate.
Over the last week much of Lepreau's normal output has been replaced by more expensive power generated at the Coleson Cove oil-fired generating station in Saint John.
According to figures filed with the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board in October, it is costing an estimated $121.75 for oil at Coleson Cove to produce one megawatt hour of electricity this year, compared to $6.57 of nuclear fuel at Lepreau.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
Methinks he doesn't love me N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2021/06/methinks-everybody-knows-eub-higgy.html
Friday, 18 June 2021
Methinks everybody knows the EUB, Higgy, Mikey Holland and Chucky Firlotte the latest Chairman the NB Power Board of Directors have a problem N'esy Pas?
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2020 10:31:00 -0400
Subject: RE Matter No. 357 - NB Power Rate Design Your pal Margot
Cragg or her hubby Cardy and all his political buddies should have
explained to you what happened before the last election
To: amanb@nb.aibn.com, margot.cragg@umnb.ca, hart@oromocto.ca,
shelley.morton@moncton.ca, gilles.belleau@shediac.ca,
john.crsa@nb.aibn.com, clerk@townofriverview.ca,
chantal.dube@edmundston.ca, cao@florencevillebristol.ca,
office@vonm.ca, quispamsis@quispamsis.ca, clerk@miramichi.org,
municipalite@bascaraquet.com, lebrun@nb.aibn.com,
info@beaubassinest.ca, paul.lang@csrk.ca, charline@8citiesnb.com,
dg@afmnb.org, ryan.donaghy@gnb.ca, jennifer.thompson@gnb.ca,
info@dieppe.ca, denis.bujold@gnb.ca, patrick.jeune@snb.ca,
patrick.jeune@gnb.ca, info@csrno.ca, info@commission2.ca,
jocelyne.hachey@csrchaleursc.
wbell@rsc5.ca, gerard.belliveau@nbse.ca, info@rsc8.ca, info@frsc.ca,
hollis.bartlett@snbsc.ca, dfitz@rsc11.ca, katelyn.mcgrath@rsc12.ca,
info@gssc-cesb.ca
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>, "terry.seguin"
<terry.seguin@cbc.ca>, cindy.stewart@miramichi.org,
peggy.doyle@miramichi.org, paul.mcgraw@miramichi.org,
"michelle.conroy" <michelle.conroy@gnb.ca>, jgillies@stu.ca,
lturnbul@dal.ca, "sylvie.gadoury" <sylvie.gadoury@radio-canada.
"blaine.higgs" <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, "Holland, Mike (LEG)"
<mike.holland@gnb.ca>
Danielle Charron
Executive Director
Association of Municipal Administrators of New Brunswick
20, Courtney Street
Douglas, NB, E3G 8A1
Telephone: 506-453-4229
Fax: 506-444-5452
E-mail: amanb@nb.aibn.com
http://www.amanb-aamnb.ca/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
Municipalities accuse NB Power of over-charging for street-light service
Margot Cragg says EUB should make the utility adhere to the rate standard the board set
The Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick says NB Power needs to stop raising the rates it charges for street lights.
In fact, executive director Margot Cragg said the utility not only needs to stop raising rates — it needs to reduce them.
Cragg says the EUB should make NB Power follow the standard it set for rate charges for street lights. (Cindy Grant/CBC)
Cragg made a presentation to the Energy and Utilities Board in early February after the City of Fredericton wrote a letter about the rates for street lights and the union decided to take on the fight for all municipalities.
"For Fredericton, the cost in 2017 was over a million dollars," she said. "For other municipalities in the area, like Oromocto, it was $340,000 and even for a rural community like Hanwell, it was over $41,000 … that's a pretty hefty bill."
Cragg said money spent on street lights can't be spent elsewhere.
Another increase
She added the EUB has set a standard to determine the charges to each rate class.
"So what the EUB has said is that the rate charge for each class should be about equal to the cost of supply of the service, within a range of reasonableness."
But Cragg said NB Power is proposing to increase it to 195 per cent of that cost.
"That's almost double the cost of actually providing the service."
Cragg pointed out the present rate is too high and has been getting worse year over year. She said in 2015-2016 it was 176 per cent of the cost of supplying the service.
In 2017-2018 it was 192 per cent of the cost.
"That cost to revenue ratio has been getting worse year over year," Cragg said, adding that if the proposed rate is accepted, the ratio will be even more punitive.
'Optional' service
At its rate hearing last year, NB Power said it considered street light service optional and not subject to the EUB's fair price guidelines. It also said the higher prices it charges for street lights help it to keep prices it charges other customers, such as homeowners, lower.
At hearings this week, both public intervener Heather Black and EUB lawyer Ellen Desmond pressed NB Power rate design managers to explain why they ignore the board's fair price guidelines in setting charges for both street lights and water heater rentals.
"NB Power doesn't really view street lights as a rate class," said the utility's rate design specialist Kevin Gibson. But he said it would follow whatever direction the EUB gives it on the issue.
Follow the standard
Cragg said it's up to the EUB to make NB Power follow the standard it set.
Cragg said the group asked the EUB to set the rate at one that provides fair pricing for street-lighting services within all municipalities.
"Any dollar that is spent on excessive pricing for street lighting is money the municipality can't spend fixing the road, can't spend on the water services, can't spend on the services and infrastructure you and I use every single day in our communities," she said.
With files from Information Morning Fredericton
IN THE MATTER OF an application by New Brunswick Power Corporation for
approval of the schedules of the rates for the fiscal year commencing
April 1, 2018.
Public Session
held at the Delta Hotel, Saint John, New Brunswick, on February 7th
2018 at 6:00 p.m.
BEFORE: Francois Beaulieu - Vice-Chairman
Michael Costello - Member
Patrick Ervin - Member
NB Energy and Utilities Board
- Counsel - Ms. Ellen Desmond, Q.C.
- Staff - David Young
- John Lawton
- Michael Dickie
Henneberry Reporting Service
INDEX
Ross Galbraith – page 12
David Amos – page 30
Margot Cragg – page 44
Stephen Hartley – page 50
Josee Bourque – page 55
Larry Shaw – page 65
David Beauvais – page 71
Keelen Gagnon – page 79
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Amos. So our
next presenter is Margot Cragg from the Union of Municipalities of New
Brunswick? Ms. Cragg?
MS. CRAGG: Thank you very much. And I promise to take considerably
less than 21 minutes.
So -- and again, thank you very much for the opportunity to speak
here today.
As you mentioned, my name is Margot Cragg and I am here on behalf
of the Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick.
Now the focus of our presentation is the cost of service and
proposed increase for the rate class street lights and unmetered.
Specifically, NB Power is requesting a 2 percent average increase in
rates effective April 1st 2018, including a 2 percent increase for
street lights. At specific issue is the revenue to cost ratio for
street lights when compared with the range of reasonableness as
defined by the EUB.
So as background, the Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick or
UMNB represents 61 member municipalities and rural communities
throughout New Brunswick. UMNB advocates on behalf of our members
with the goal of building strong sustainable and viable municipalities
throughout our province.
Most New Brunswick municipalities rely on NB Power for street
lights. And according to the City of Fredericton's document -- and
thanks to my colleague who is on the phone right now -- municipalities
provide street lights in a variety of forms. So for lights and davits
installed on utility poles owned by NB Power and/or Bell Aliant which
are rented on a monthly basis from NB Power at unmetered rates
depending on the wattage, if the pole on which the light is mounted is
only used for street lights there is a fee for the -- rental fee for
the pole as well. Lights and poles also owned by municipalities, such
as decorative lights, NB Power provides electricity on either -- on a
metered or unmetered basis. And there are other lights operated by NB
-- New Brunswick's Department of Transportation and infrastructure
along major highways.
So in many communities well-lit roads are considered a rather
important part of safety for both the drivers and pedestrians. Street
lighting is also one of municipalities more expensive bills. For a
city like Fredericton, the approximate cost of street lighting in 2017
was over a million dollars. For a town like Sackville, the cost was
approximately $157,000 or two and a half cents on a 2017 property tax
rate of $1.55 per $100 of assessment paid by residents like you and I.
For a small village like Tide Head with a population of less than
1,000 people, street lights cost approximately $40,000 or 4.24 percent
of its 2017 operating budget. And even for an incorporated rural
municipality like Hanwell, the street lights cost approximately over
$41,000.
While a small number of municipalities operate their own
electrical service, the vast majority of municipalities do not have
the option of shopping around for a better deal and must rely on NB
Power for their street lights. For this reason the existing cost of
service and the proposed increase being discussed at this rate hearing
are of significant interest to UMNB's members.
In its 2016 decision -- by the way, I seem to be cutting in and
out. In the event that you can't hear me please let me know.
In its 2016 decision on Matter 271, the EUB stated -- and I will
quote -- on a system wide basis the revenues to be obtained through
approved rates from all customer classes should be equal to the sum of
the cost apportionments for each customer class. To state this
another way, the system revenue to cost ratio should equal 1.0 or
unity. In theory, a revenue to cost ratio of 1.0 should apply for
each class. There may be valid reasons however why rates would
produce projected revenues higher than allocated costs for some
classes offset by rates for other classes that will produce revenues
lower than allocated costs.
In a decision of December 21st 2005, the New Brunswick Board of
Commissioners of Public Utilities indicated that a long-term range of
.95 to -- to 1.05 for the revenue to cost ratio for each class is
reasonable. This continues to be the view of the Board. In other
words, the EUB has already stated that the rate charged to each rate
class should be approximately equal to the cost of supplying the
service with a range of reasonableness of .95 to 1.05 or 95 to 105
percent. I note that NB Power acknowledged the range of
reasonableness in its document evidence presented as part of the
current general rate application.
In section 10.1 it states that the goal is to adjust rates such
that the revenue to cost ratio for each class is within the range of
reasonableness of -- .95 and 1.05 according to the evidence presented
by NB Power as part of this -- this Matter. However, the revenue to
cost ratio for street lights is significantly outside that range of
reasonableness. This is an understatement.
According to NB Power's document evidence in table 9.1(a), the
recommended 2018/19 CCA asset uniform 2 percent rates, the revenue to
cost ratio for street lights and unmetered based on NB Power's
proposed rate would be 1.954 or 195 percent. In other words, NB Power
is proposing to bill almost double the cost of providing the service.
Furthermore, contrary to EUB's direction, the revenue to cost ratio
for street lights is getting worse not better. According to documents
from past EUB matters, recent revenue to cost ratios were as follows.
In 2015 to 2016, 1.76 or 176 percent of costs. In 2017 to 2018,
1.915 or 192 percent of costs. And once again, in the current
proposed rates, 1.954 or 195 percent of costs.
In short, the recent current and proposed revenue to cost ratios
for street lighting are unreasonable by the EUB's own standard. It
begs the question why the EUB approved rate increases that made this
disparity worse despite its part direction. And based on the numbers
presented, it appears municipalities are being egregiously over billed
for this service. This has significant financial implications for
municipalities and it affects their capacity to provide other services
that citizens need and expect.
Money spent on excessive costs for street lighting is money that
cannot be spent on well-maintained roads or parks or on essential
services like waste management and public safety that people rely on.
It's also money that ultimately comes from residents in the form of
taxes.
NB Power's 2018 -- 2017 to 2018 evidence document in section 11.0
stated that differential rate increases were not considered for street
lights because their services are optional services for customers and
benefit the other customer classes through their contribution to net
earnings. That statement suggests that New Brunswick's towns,
villages, cities and rural communities are expressly being over
charged for street lighting to subsidize other rate classes and to
improve NB Power's bottom line. This is unjust and is not consistent
with the principle of the range of reasonableness.
Furthermore, the definition of optional in this case is not
reasonable. We live in a province where daylight hours are limited
for a significant part of each year and where the standard work and
school day in winter often starts and ends in the dark. To assess
whether street lights are genuinely simply optional for municipalities
that -- for the municipalities that provide them, please imagine the
impact on safety and public opinion if a city decided to save money by
turning off the lights on a busy road or consider the impact of street
lights on the safety of pedestrians such as children walking home from
school or woman walking alone in the dark.
In summary, the cost of revenue ratio for streetlighting is
significantly and disproportionately outside the range of
reasonableness identified by the EUB. The disparity has worsened over
time, rather than improving. Contrary to past direction, the
disparity imposes a significant financial burden on municipalities and
the proposed 2 percent increase for 2018 and 2019 would exacerbate
rather than correcting that problem.
So our request and recommendation is that the EUB direct NB Power
to adjust the rates for streetlights and unmetered from 2018 onward to
a level that provide fair pricing for streetlight service within all
municipalities. So, thank you. I suspect, as mentioned, that's less
than 21 minutes. And are there any questions?
VICE-CHAIRMAN: No. Thank you, Ms. Cragg, for your presentation and
we will consider your comments.
MS. CRAGG: Thank you very much.
"lcozzarini@nbpower.com" <lcozzarini@nbpower.com>,
"jfurey@nbpower.com" <jfurey@nbpower.com>, "srussell@nbpower.com"
<srussell@nbpower.com>, "wharrison@nbpower.com"
<wharrison@nbpower.com>, "NBPRegulatory@nbpower.com"
<NBPRegulatory@nbpower.com>, "SWaycott@nbpower.com"
<SWaycott@nbpower.com>, "bcrawford@nbpower.com"
<bcrawford@nbpower.com>, "George.Porter@nbpower.com"
<George.Porter@nbpower.com>, NBEUB/CESPNB <General@nbeub.ca>,
"Desmond, Ellen" <ecdesmond@nbeub.ca>, "Dickie, Michael"
<Michael.Dickie@nbeub.ca>, "Lawton, John" <John.Lawton@nbeub.ca>,
"Young, Dave" <Dave.Young@nbeub.ca>, "Bourbonnais, Cecile"
<Cecile.Bourbonnais@brattle.
<heather.black@gnb.ca>, "rdk@indecon.com" <rdk@indecon.com>,
"rrichard@nb.aibn.com" <rrichard@nb.aibn.com>,
"sussexsharingclub@nb.aibn.com
"margot.cragg@umnb.ca" <margot.cragg@umnb.ca>,
"jeff.garrett@sjenergy.com" <jeff.garrett@sjenergy.com>,
"dan.dionne@perth-andover.com" <dan.dionne@perth-andover.com>
"pierreroy@edmundston.ca" <pierreroy@edmundston.ca>,
"ray.robinson@sjenergy.com" <ray.robinson@sjenergy.com>,
"sstoll@airdberlis.com" <sstoll@airdberlis.com>,
"pzarnett@bdrenergy.com" <pzarnett@bdrenergy.com>,
"leducjr@nb.sympatico.ca" <leducjr@nb.sympatico.ca>
Greetings!
I am attaching a presentation that might interest some of you. It
discusses the forces that are shaping the future of electric
utilities. These forces are going to disrupt the existing utility
business model. In order to get ahead of change, utilities will have
to make significant changes in how they price electricity.
Comments welcome.
Ahmad
AHMAD FARUQUI, Ph.D.
Principal
The Brattle Group
201 Mission Street
Suite 2800
San Francisco, CA 94105
Direct +1.415.217.1026
Mobile +1.925.408.0149
Main +1.415.217.1000
Sr. Administrative Assistant
Hadia Popal | +1.415.217.1081
brattle.com
-----Original Message-----
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2020 8:13 AM
To: Mitchell, Kathleen <Kathleen.Mitchell@nbeub.ca>
Cc: louis-philippe.gauthier@cfib.
david.russell@gnb.ca; Gilles.volpe@libertyutilities.
Paul.Volpe@libertyutilities.
Hoyt, Len <len.hoyt@mcinnescooper.com>;
jeffery.callaghan@
gerald@kissnb.com; cstewart@stewartmckelvey.com;
hanrahan.dion@jdirving.com; lcozzarini@nbpower.com;
jfurey@nbpower.com; srussell@nbpower.com; wharrison@nbpower.com;
NBPRegulatory@nbpower.com; SWaycott@nbpower.com;
bcrawford@nbpower.com; George.Porter@nbpower.com; NBEUB/CESPNB
<General@nbeub.ca>; Desmond, Ellen <ecdesmond@nbeub.ca>; Dickie,
Michael <Michael.Dickie@nbeub.ca>; Lawton, John
<John.Lawton@nbeub.ca>; Young, Dave <Dave.Young@nbeub.ca>; Faruqui,
Ahmad <Ahmad.Faruqui@brattle.com>; Bourbonnais, Cecile
<Cecile.Bourbonnais@brattle.
rdk@indecon.com; rrichard@nb.aibn.com; sussexsharingclub@nb.aibn.com;
margot.cragg@umnb.ca; jeff.garrett@sjenergy.com;
dan.dionne@perth-andover.com; pierreroy@edmundston.ca;
ray.robinson@sjenergy.com; sstoll@airdberlis.com;
pzarnett@bdrenergy.com; leducjr@nb.sympatico.ca
Subject: Re: Matter No. 357 - NB Power Rate Design / Instance Nº 357 -
Énergie NB - Établissement des tarifs
Good Day
I wish o remind the EUB et al that I took no part in the creation of
any "strawman" report and also have quoted from the transcript of when
we last met to discuss this matter on the Public Record
Sincerely
david Raymond Amos
----------Original message ----------
From: "Young, Dave" <Dave.Young@nbeub.ca>
Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2019 14:47:16 +0000
Subject: Comments on the Brattle draft
To: "louis-philippe.gauthier@cfib.
<louis-philippe.gauthier@cfib.
<David.Raymond.Amos333@gmail.
<david.sollows@gnb.ca>, "david.russell@gnb.ca" <david.russell@gnb.ca>,
"Gilles.volpe@enbridge.com" <Gilles.volpe@enbridge.com>,
"Paul.Volpe@enbridge.com" <Paul.Volpe@enbridge.com>,
"dave.lavigne@enbridge.com" <dave.lavigne@enbridge.com>, "Hoyt, Len"
<len.hoyt@mcinnescooper.com>, "jeffery.callaghan@
<jeffery.callaghan@
<rzarumba@ceadvisors.com>, "gerald@kissnb.com" <gerald@kissnb.com>,
"cstewart@stewartmckelvey.com" <cstewart@stewartmckelvey.com>
"hanrahan.dion@jdirving.com" <hanrahan.dion@jdirving.com>,
"lcozzarini@nbpower.com" <lcozzarini@nbpower.com>,
"jfurey@nbpower.com" <jfurey@nbpower.com>, "srussell@nbpower.com"
<srussell@nbpower.com>, "wharrison@nbpower.com"
<wharrison@nbpower.com>, "NBPRegulatory@nbpower.com"
<NBPRegulatory@nbpower.com>, "NConnellyBosse@nbpower.com"
<NConnellyBosse@nbpower.com>, "SWaycott@nbpower.com"
<SWaycott@nbpower.com>, "bcrawford@nbpower.com"
<bcrawford@nbpower.com>, "George.Porter@nbpower.com"
<George.Porter@nbpower.com>, NBEUB/CESPNB <General@nbeub.ca>,
"Desmond, Ellen" <ecdesmond@nbeub.ca>, "Dickie, Michael"
<Michael.Dickie@nbeub.ca>, "Lawton, John" <John.Lawton@nbeub.ca>,
"Young, Dave" <Dave.Young@nbeub.ca>, "Mitchell, Kathleen"
<Kathleen.Mitchell@nbeub.ca>, "Ahmad.Faruqui@brattle.com"
<Ahmad.Faruqui@brattle.com>, "Cecile.Bourbonnais@brattle.
<Cecile.Bourbonnais@brattle.
<heather.black@gnb.ca>, "rdk@indecon.com" <rdk@indecon.com>,
"rrichard@nb.aibn.com" <rrichard@nb.aibn.com>,
"sussexsharingclub@nb.aibn.com
"margot.cragg@umnb.ca" <margot.cragg@umnb.ca>,
"jeff.garrett@sjenergy.com" <jeff.garrett@sjenergy.com>,
"dan.dionne@perth-andover.com" <dan.dionne@perth-andover.com>
"pierreroy@edmundston.ca" <pierreroy@edmundston.ca>,
"ray.robinson@sjenergy.com" <ray.robinson@sjenergy.com>,
"sstoll@airdberlis.com" <sstoll@airdberlis.com>,
"pzarnett@bdrenergy.com" <pzarnett@bdrenergy.com>,
"leducjr@nb.sympatico.ca" <leducjr@nb.sympatico.ca>
Board staff have only one comment related to the draft report. We
believe it is important to that during the discussion of scorecard
that it be mentioned that some parties, including Board Staff, did not
participate in the scoring exercise.
David Young
Senior Advisor
New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board
(506)643-7573
October 12th 10 2018.
CHAIRMAN: “I think it really goes back almost to the first 5 question
that appeared in our August 23rd letter was 6 whether or not the
matter should be commenced anew or if 7 the existing evidentiary
record continues.”
MR. AMOS Yes. The record of this matter clearly shows it's been
delayed long enough. I -- as you know, I opposed when it was adjourned
or whatever in 2017. I believe it should begin right where we left
off. We already went through the first round of interrogatories, or
however you say the word. Right now the current government has
promised to freeze the rates for four years. NB Power has a huge
problem. We don't know who has the next mandate. But if the current
government maintains that mandate, I am surprised to see that you are
the Chair of the Board. I thought that you were gone, but apparently
you have been reappointed. Anyway, I think we should begin where we
left off. All the documents that are in the records should be added
to. There is no need to consult with anyone. The matter is clear. NB
Power has to come up with a way to design rates that satisfies the
Board, and the government and the people of this province. I think we
should start again right now.”
CHAIRMAN: Okay. Just to clarify then. You are suggesting that NB Power
really put forward their position on where this should go before we --
we would engage all of the parties with an independent facilitator to
talk about the strawman, if you will, that they have put up?
MR. STEWART: Right. And I would think that it would be -- I think a
strawman is an appropriate characterization that -- I mean, I -- in
that context, you know, whether it is a without prejudice proposal or
one subject to further discussion, but in order for the technical
conference that they propose to actually really achieve substantive
results quickly about defining the scope and what order and what time
table, we have to start somewhere. And any discussion is going to
start with the utility. So if they want to have a technical conference
to decide where their rate design application should go, then it seems
to me that they should come forward with some basic proposals of --
you know, the easy and obvious example is both the existing
evidentiary record and the rationale for the adjournment, you know,
turn on AMI.
And so there is not much point in us talking about where we will go
with rate design necessarily if that is in immediate play. So there is
some very basic unanswered questions that in order for a technical
conference to succeed on a reasonable time table, the utility needs to
come forward and give us that information to make a proposal as to
where they see it going, what their strawman is and then we can all
sit down and work froM that.
CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Mr. Stewart. Union of Municipalities 16 of New
Brunswick, Ms. Cragg?
MS. CRAGG: Thank you. I will speak specifically to the question of
whether the matter should be commenced anew or if the existing
evidentiary record suffices. As a new intervener, our evidence and
information would not be included in that record. And so it is
certainly our opinion that there should be an opportunity for us to
present additional information. I will note that it was at the order
of the Board in Matter 375 that the issues presented by the Union of
Municipalities of New Brunswick at that -- at the rate application be
dealt with in this rate hearing. So the ability to present
information, to present our evidence to this rate design hearing is
quite important for it to be able to be considered in a genuine way.
So we would support the folks who have spoken previously and indicated
there should be an opportunity for a new hearing rather than
continuing purely on the basis of what was already presented.
CHAIRMAN: Maybe I can clarify that for you a little bit. The proposal
really was whether or not the existing record would continue with the
probability of new or additional evidence from NB Power and then the
opportunity for evidence from interveners. And so at this stage, no
matter which way we proceed, you would have an opportunity to file
evidence in this matter.
MS. CRAGG: I think that -- I think that my statement in support of the
previous speakers still stands but I appreciate that clarification.
CHAIRMAN: Okay. Thank you. Utilities Municipal, Mr. Stoll?
MR. STOLL: Good morning, Mr. Chair. There are I guess a few points. We
think there is some value in retaining the 1 evidentiary record and
then expanding on it. So I guess you would phrase that as a
continuation rather than starting anew.
In your exchange with Mr. Stewart regarding like a strawman type
approach, there may be some benefit in that. From a general
perspective, and I think this was evident in the letter we wrote in
August, is we see a need for some rescoping more to a kind of a
broader approach to really provide some of the benefit we think this
hearing should be trying to achieve. I think if you look at some of
the evidence that was filed, Mr. Christensen in the Christensen
report, that it raises some fundamental issues around rate
classification and where NB Power sits regarding the industry at large
and some other issues. I think also he raises some other questions
about the philosophy behind the approach to rates and rate setting.
And we also saw in 375 that rates -- and this was in the Dunsky report
-- that rates and rate policies such as net metering impact investment
decisions. I think that is one of the concerns my client has is we are
in the business of long-term investments, the dynamics are changing
and we need a rate structure that is going to be predictable for the
longer term and is going to send signals that achieves the objectives
we want. So we would like to continue.
We don't see this as a three month or a four month exercise in coming
to a decision. We see this as there may be some things that we can
deal with in the short-term. But we do feel that this -- to do things
right that this will be a longer term process. And that it may take a
year or in excess of a year to go through each of the various
components and come to resolution. And there may be a bit of an
iterative approach I think as we started down the path. We went to the
Christensen report and there were some issues raised. And so as we
take some steps forward, we may learn some things that we hadn't
considered before. So I think the parties should be aware of that and
they should be expecting that.
And with respect to collaboration and facilitation, we are in support
of that. We do agree that there would be benefit of an independence in
the facilitation. That it is not just one party's facilitator. That it
is a neutral facilitator that is helping guide the various parties
through the process. I think those are my submissions.
CHAIRMAN: “Thank you, Mr. Stoll. And I have to say that I think your
letter that we received in August was very helpful and obviously you
had put a lot of time in to thinking that one through.’
******************
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---------- Original message ----------
From: Don Fitzgerald <dfitz@rsc11.ca>
Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2021 06:27:26 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: YO Higgy Do you and Mikey Holland or Chucky
Firlotte the latest Chairman the NB Power Board of Directors have any
idea how offensive I found the EUB Decision in the 497 Matter to be???
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
I will be away from the office until July 5th.
If the matter is urgent please contact Kelly Shaw (kshaw@rsc11.ca).
Otherwise I will respond upon my return.
YO
Higgy Do you and Mikey Holland or Chucky Firlotte the latest Chairman
the NB Power Board of Directors have any idea how offensive I found the
EUB Decision in the 497 Matter to be???
On 6/4/21, Furey, John <john.furey@mcinnescooper.com> wrote:
> Dear Ms. Mitchell,
>
> In accordance with the Board Order dated May 12, 2021, please find attached
> the Submissions of NB Power in this matter.
>
> As required by the Board Order, all parties to Matter 357 are being served.
> Ms. Liz Kramer is also being served through the email address utilized by
> the Board to distribute instructions for the hearing.
>
> Regards,
>
> John
>
> [McInnes Cooper]
> John Furey
> Counsel
> McInnes Cooper
>
> tel +1 (506) 458 1628 | fax +1 (506) 458 9903 | mobile +1 (506) 282 0380
>
> Barker House, Suite 600
> 570 Queen Street
> PO Box 610 Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A6
>
> asst Nanette Phillips | +1 (506) 458 1629
>
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Sat, 1 May 2021 15:21:20 -0300
Subject: Methinks Mr Petrie should not deny that I tried to talk to
him before responding to his Motion from NB Power in relation to the
Board's Decision of August 4, 2020 just before you had the writ dopped
the last election N'esy Pas Higgy?
To: NBP Regulatory <NBPRegulatory@nbpower.com>, "Mike.Comeau"
<Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca>, "hugh.flemming" <hugh.flemming@gnb.ca>, premier
<premier@gnb.ca>, "blaine.higgs" <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, "Holland, Mike
(LEG)" <mike.holland@gnb.ca>
Cc: "Mitchell, Kathleen" <Kathleen.Mitchell@nbeub.ca>,
"louis-philippe.gauthier@cfib.
"david.sollows@gnb.ca" <david.sollows@gnb.ca>, "david.russell@gnb.ca"
<david.russell@gnb.ca>, "Gilles.volpe@
<Gilles.volpe@
<Paul.Volpe@libertyutilities.
<dave.lavigne@
<len.hoyt@mcinnescooper.com>, "jeffery.callaghan@
<jeffery.callaghan@
<rzarumba@ceadvisors.com>, "gerald@kissnb.com" <gerald@kissnb.com>,
"cstewart@stewartmckelvey.com" <cstewart@stewartmckelvey.com>
"hanrahan.dion@jdirving.com" <hanrahan.dion@jdirving.com>, "Russell,
Stephen" <SRussell@nbpower.com>, "Harrison, Wanda"
<WHarrison@nbpower.com>, "Waycott, Stephen" <SWaycott@nbpower.com>,
"Crawford, Brad" <BCrawford@nbpower.com>, "Porter, George"
<George.Porter@nbpower.com>, NBEUB/CESPNB <General@nbeub.ca>, "Dickie,
Michael" <Michael.Dickie@nbeub.ca>, "Lawton, John"
<John.Lawton@nbeub.ca>, "Young, Dave" <Dave.Young@nbeub.ca>,
"Ahmad.Faruqui@brattle.com" <Ahmad.Faruqui@brattle.com>,
"Cecile.Bourbonnais@brattle.
"heather.black@gnb.ca" <heather.black@gnb.ca>, "rdk@indecon.com"
<rdk@indecon.com>, "rrichard@nb.aibn.com" <rrichard@nb.aibn.com>,
"sussexsharingclub@nb.aibn.com
"margot.cragg@umnb.ca" <margot.cragg@umnb.ca>,
"jeff.garrett@sjenergy.com" <jeff.garrett@sjenergy.com>,
"dan.dionne@perth-andover.com" <dan.dionne@perth-andover.com>
"pierreroy@edmundston.ca" <pierreroy@edmundston.ca>,
"ray.robinson@sjenergy.com" <ray.robinson@sjenergy.com>,
"sstoll@airdberlis.com" <sstoll@airdberlis.com>,
"pzarnett@bdrenergy.com" <pzarnett@bdrenergy.com>,
"leducjr@nb.sympatico.ca" <leducjr@nb.sympatico.ca>, "Furey, John"
<john.furey@mcinnescooper.com>
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Higgs, Premier Blaine (PO/CPM)" <Blaine.Higgs@gnb.ca>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2021 19:20:33 +0000
Subject: RE: Filing of Motion from NB Power in relation to the Board's
Decision of August 4, 2020 Methinks Mr Petrie should have done his
homework N'esy Pas Higgy?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to write.
Due to the volume of incoming messages, this is an automated response
to let you know that your email has been received and will be reviewed
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Merci d'avoir pris le temps de nous écrire.
En raison du volume des messages reçus, cette réponse automatique vous
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secteur du gouvernement, le personnel vous renverra votre courriel
pour examen et considération.
If this is a Media Request, please contact the Premier’s office at
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media-medias@gnb.ca<mailto:med
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General Information
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or Canada.ca/coronavirus<https://
information line 1-833-784-4397.
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For safety issues regarding place of employment/employer please call
WorkSafe NB 1-800-999-9775.
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For questions related to travel restrictions during COVID-19
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Renseignements généraux
Pour obtenir des renseignements généraux et des réponses aux questions
les plus fréquentes sur la COVID-19, veuillez consulter le site
GNB/COVID-19<https://na01.
ou Canada.ca/coronavirus<https://
ou composer le 1-833-784-4397.
questions de sécurité
Pour les questions de sécurité concernant les lieux de travail ou les
employeurs, communiquez avec Travail sécuritaire NB au 1-800-999-9775.
DEMANDES POUR RAISONS DE COMPASSION
Veuillez téléphoner à la Croix-Rouge canadienne au 1-800-863-6582.
Questions non liées à la santé
Veuillez composer le 1-844-462-8387 ou envoyer un courriel à l’adresse
helpaide@gnb.ca<mailto:helpaid
Questions liées aux restrictions de voyage pendant la pandémie de COVID-19 :
Composez le 1-833-948-2800.
SANTÉ MENTALE
Ligne d'aide CHIMO : 1-800-667-5005
Ligne d’écoute d’espoir : 1-855-242-3310
Agence des services frontaliers du Canada
L’Agence a mis en place une ligne d’information sur la COVID-19 pour
les questions concernant la traversée de la frontière, le
1-800-461-9999.
LIGNE D’INFORMATION SUR l'assurance-emploi
Composez le 1-833-381-2725.
Office of the Premier/Cabinet du premier ministre
P.O Box/C. P. 6000 Fredericton New-Brunswick/Nouveau-
Tel./Tel. : (506) 453-2144
Email/Courriel:
premier@gnb.ca/premier.
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Russell, David (DTI/MTI)" <David.Russell@gnb.ca>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2021 19:20:34 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Filing of Motion from NB Power in relation
to the Board's Decision of August 4, 2020 Methinks Mr Petrie should
have done his homework N'esy Pas Higgy?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
I will be out of the office until Monday, May 3rd, 2021. I will reply
to your message at that time.
Regards,
David Russell
---------- Original message ----------
From: Gerald Bourque <kisspartyofnb@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:23:40 -0300
Subject: Re: Filing of Motion from NB Power in relation to the Board's
Decision of August 4, 2020 Methinks Mr Petrie should have done his
homework N'esy Pas Higgy?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Cc: NBP Regulatory <NBPRegulatory@nbpower.com>, "Mike.Comeau"
<Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca>, "hugh.flemming" <hugh.flemming@gnb.ca>, premier
<premier@gnb.ca>, "blaine.higgs" <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, "Holland, Mike
(LEG)" <mike.holland@gnb.ca>, "Mitchell, Kathleen"
<Kathleen.Mitchell@nbeub.ca>, "louis-philippe.gauthier@cfib.
<louis-philippe.gauthier@cfib.
<david.sollows@gnb.ca>, "david.russell@gnb.ca" <david.russell@gnb.ca>,
"Gilles.volpe@
<Gilles.volpe@
<Paul.Volpe@libertyutilities.
<dave.lavigne@
<len.hoyt@mcinnescooper.com>, "jeffery.callaghan@
<jeffery.callaghan@
<rzarumba@ceadvisors.com>, "gerald@kissnb.com" <gerald@kissnb.com>,
"cstewart@stewartmckelvey.com" <cstewart@stewartmckelvey.com>
"hanrahan.dion@jdirving.com" <hanrahan.dion@jdirving.com>, "Russell,
Stephen" <SRussell@nbpower.com>, "Harrison, Wanda"
<WHarrison@nbpower.com>, "Waycott, Stephen" <SWaycott@nbpower.com>,
"Crawford, Brad" <BCrawford@nbpower.com>, "Porter, George"
<George.Porter@nbpower.com>, NBEUB/CESPNB <General@nbeub.ca>, "Dickie,
Michael" <Michael.Dickie@nbeub.ca>, "Lawton, John"
<John.Lawton@nbeub.ca>, "Young, Dave" <Dave.Young@nbeub.ca>,
"Ahmad.Faruqui@brattle.com" <Ahmad.Faruqui@brattle.com>,
"Cecile.Bourbonnais@brattle.
"heather.black@gnb.ca" <heather.black@gnb.ca>, "rdk@indecon.com"
<rdk@indecon.com>, "rrichard@nb.aibn.com" <rrichard@nb.aibn.com>,
"sussexsharingclub@nb.aibn.com
"margot.cragg@umnb.ca" <margot.cragg@umnb.ca>,
"jeff.garrett@sjenergy.com" <jeff.garrett@sjenergy.com>,
"dan.dionne@perth-andover.com" <dan.dionne@perth-andover.com>
"pierreroy@edmundston.ca" <pierreroy@edmundston.ca>,
"ray.robinson@sjenergy.com" <ray.robinson@sjenergy.com>,
"sstoll@airdberlis.com" <sstoll@airdberlis.com>,
"pzarnett@bdrenergy.com" <pzarnett@bdrenergy.com>,
"leducjr@nb.sympatico.ca" <leducjr@nb.sympatico.ca>, "Furey, John"
<john.furey@mcinnescooper.com>
Received, thank you.
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