From: Holt, Susan Premier (PO/CPM) <Susan.Holt@gnb.ca>
Date: Fri, Nov 15, 2024 at 8:51 AM
Subject: Automatic reply: I shook my head as I listened to Randy Hatfield the man on a mission to lower NB Power bills yap on CBC this morning
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Thank you for your email. This account receives a high volume of emails. Thank you for your patience as our team prepares a response.
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Merci pour votre courriel. Ce compte reçoit un grand volume de courriels. Nous vous remercions de votre patience pendant que notre équipe prépare une réponse.From: Chiasson, Alain (OAG/CPG) <Alain.Chiasson2@gnb.ca>
Date: Fri, Nov 15, 2024 at 8:51 AM
Subject: Automatic reply: I shook my head as I listened to Randy Hatfield the man on a mission to lower NB Power bills yap on CBC this morning
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
I am presently away on vacation until Wedmesday November 20th, 2024 and I will have limited access to my emails. If your matter is urgent, you can contact John Gillis, who will be acting as the Public Intervener in my absence at 506-259-2164 or at john.gillis@gnb.ca.
From: Moore, Rob - M.P. <Rob.Moore@parl.gc.ca>
Date: Fri, Nov 15, 2024 at 8:51 AM
Subject: Automatic reply: I shook my head as I listened to Randy Hatfield the man on a mission to lower NB Power bills yap on CBC this morning
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Thank you for contacting the Honourable Rob Moore, P.C., M.P. office. We appreciate the time you took to get in touch with our office.
If you did not already, please ensure to include your full contact details on your email and the appropriate staff will be able to action your request. We strive to ensure all constituent correspondence is responded to in a timely manner.
If your question or concern is time sensitive, please call our office: 506-832-4200.
Again, we thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Office of the Honourable Rob Moore, P.C., M.P.
Member of Parliament for Fundy Royal
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Nov 15, 2024 at 8:51 AM
Subject: I shook my head as I listened to Randy Hatfield the man on a mission to lower NB Power bills yap on CBC this morning
To: Susan.Holt <susan.holt@gnb.ca>, ltgov <LTgov@gnb.ca>, Benoit.Bourque <Benoit.Bourque@gnb.ca>, Rene.Legacy <Rene.Legacy@gnb.ca>, guy.arseneault <guy.arseneault@gnb.ca>, chuck.chiasson <chuck.chiasson@gnb.ca>, Robert. Jones <Robert.Jones@cbc.ca>, louis-philippe.gauthier@cfib.ca <louis-philippe.gauthier@cfib.ca>, frederic.gionet@cfib.ca <frederic.gionet@cfib.ca>, <david@ibew37.com>, david.sollows@gnb.ca <david.sollows@gnb.ca>, <mike.legere@adityabirla.com>, Ron Marcolin <Ron.marcolin@cme-mec.ca>, <executivedirector@forestnb.com>, Brandy.Gellner@libertyutilities.com <Brandy.Gellner@libertyutilities.com>, JohnFurey@fureylegal.com <JohnFurey@fureylegal.com>, Leanne <LMurray@nbpower.com>, Jamie <JPetrie@nbpower.com>, Darren <DaMurphy@nbpower.com>, George <George.Porter@nbpower.com>, Pam <pmckay@nbpower.com>, Laura <lgordon@nbpower.com>, Kevin <kevgibson@nbpower.com>, NBP Regulatory <NBPRegulatory@nbpower.com>, NBEUB/CESPNB <General@nbeub.ca>, Dave <Dave.Young@nbeub.ca>, Aherrington@lawsoncreamer.com <Aherrington@lawsoncreamer.com>, Michael <Michael.Dickie@nbeub.ca>, Kathleen <Kathleen.Mitchell@nbeub.ca>, Veronique Otis <Veronique.Otis@nbeub.ca>, Susan Colwell <Susan.Colwell@nbeub.ca>, Melissa Curran <Melissa.Curran@nbeub.ca>, Len <len.hoyt@mcinnescooper.com>, jeff.garrett@sjenergy.com <jeff.garrett@sjenergy.com>, shelley.wood@sjenergy.com <shelley.wood@sjenergy.com>, dan.dionne@perth-andover.com <dan.dionne@perth-andover.com>, pierreroy@edmundston.ca <pierreroy@edmundston.ca>, <ryan.mitchell@sjenergy.com>, Paula <pzarnett@bdrenergy.com>, rburgoyne@coxandpalmer.com <rburgoyne@coxandpalmer.com>, <hwafaei@stikeman.com>, gzacher@stikeman.com <gzacher@stikeman.com>, Dion <hanrahan.dion@jdirving.com>, alain.chiasson2@gnb.ca <alain.chiasson2@gnb.ca>, <randy@sjhdc.ca>, <dustin@emrydia.com>, rdk <rdk@indecon.com>, <shelley@nbcpd.org>, Mitton, Megan (LEG) <megan.mitton@gnb.ca>, David.Coon <David.Coon@gnb.ca>, keith.chiasson <keith.chiasson@gnb.ca>, jacques.j.leblanc <jacques.j.leblanc@gnb.ca>, jean-claude.d'amours <jean-claude.d'amours@gnb.ca>, robert.mckee <robert.mckee@gnb.ca>, robert.gauvin <robert.gauvin@gnb.ca>, Mark.Blakely <Mark.Blakely@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, John.Williamson <John.Williamson@parl.gc.ca>, rob.moore <rob.moore@parl.gc.ca>, Bill.Oliver <Bill.Oliver@gnb.ca>
Cc: premier <premier@gnb.ca>, pm <pm@pm.gc.ca>, dominic.leblanc <dominic.leblanc@parl.gc.ca>, <ps.ministerofpublicsafety-ministredelasecuritepublique.sp@ps-sp.gc.ca>, mcu <mcu@justice.gc.ca>, Katie.Telford <Katie.Telford@pmo-cpm.gc.ca>, <Rob.weir.riverview@gmail.com>, <DonMonahan@hotmail.com>, <ian.lee@gnb.ca>
From: Glenn Zacher <GZacher@stikeman.com>
Date: Mon, Jul 29, 2024 at 3:51 PM
Subject: Automatic reply: Meet the man on a mission to lower NB Power bills
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
I am out of town and away from the office until Tuesday, Aug 6, 2024 and may be delayed in responding. If your matter is urgent, please contact my assistant Sofia at scasinha@stikeman.com or 416 869 6703. Thank you
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From: LeBlanc, Dominic - député <dominic.leblanc@parl.gc.ca>
Date: Mon, Jul 29, 2024 at 6:36 PM
Subject: Automatic reply: Meet the man on a mission to lower NB Power bills
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
(English follows)
Bonjour,
Nous
accusons réception de votre courriel adressé à L’honorable Dominic
LeBlanc, cp, cr, député de Beauséjour et nous vous en remercions.
Veuillez noter que nous recevons actuellement un volume élevé de correspondances. Veuillez prévoir un délai dans nos réponses.
En ce qui concerne les courriels relativement à des enjeux particuliers de nos commettants de Beauséjour, nous allons nous assurer de bien réviser votre message et un employé de notre bureau de circonscription communiquera avec vous si nécessaire. Si vous avez des questions ou vous désirez des clarifications, vous pouvez toujours communiquer avec notre bureau au numéro de téléphone suivant : (506) 533-5700.
Si vous écrivez à propos de sujets relatifs aux fonctions de sécurité publique du
ministre LeBlanc, veuillez communiquer avec notre département de Sécurité publique à ps.ministerofpublicsafety-
Pour toutes demandes des médias, veuillez contacter Kelly Ouimet à Kelly.Ouimet@iga-aig.gc.ca
Merci et bonne journée.
Bureau de L’hon. Dominic LeBlanc, cp, cr, député
Député de Beauséjour
------------------------------
Hello,
We acknowledge receipt and thank you for your email addressed to the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., K.C., M.P. for Beauséjour.
Please note that we are currently receiving a high volume of correspondence. This may mean a delay in our responding to you.
For emails related to specific issues from our constituents in Beauséjour, we will make sure to review your message and an employee from our constituency office will be in contact with you if necessary. If you have any questions or require clarification, you can always contact our office at the following phone number: (506) 533-5700.
If you are writing with respect to Minister LeBlanc's public safety duties, please
direct your correspondence to our Public Safety department at ps.ministerofpublicsafety-
Thank you and have a good day.
Office of the Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., K.C., M.P.
Member of Parliament for Beauséjour
N.B. Power wins long fight to raise rates 19 per cent over 2 years
Energy and Utilities Board grants utility almost all of its requested rate increase
N.B.
Power's headquarters in Fredericton. The utility, which applied to
raise rates on customers by $320 million over two years, has been
awarded all but a few million of that by the Energy and Utilities Board. (Shane Fowler/CBC)N.B. Power has won approval to keep charging rates that it increased on customers by an average of 9.25 per cent on April 1, and to repeat the increase next April, with only minor modifications.
In an oral decision released Friday morning, the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board granted N.B. Power almost everything it asked for in an application the company launched late last year to raise its rates significantly over two years.
The two increases ruled on by the board include the retroactive approval of rate increases awarded to the utility on an interim basis last April of an average 9.25 per cent, including 9.8 per cent for residential customers.
A second identical increase, to take effect on April 1, 2025, was lowered marginally but only by a fraction of one per cent.
Board
member Christopher Stewart presided over a three-person panel that sat
on and off all summer to review N.B. Power's rate request. Stewart
delivered a final decision Friday. (Ian Bonnell / CBC)
The board's ruling was delivered orally by utilities board member Christopher Stewart, who presided over hearings on the application during the summer. He said more detailed written reasons will be issued later.
"The Board is issuing this decision on an expedited basis to give ratepayers certainty about their electricity costs and to provide N.B. Power information necessary to plan its business and operational activities," said Stewart.
N.B.
Power president Lori Clark, and vice-presidents Darren Murphy (left)
and Brad Coady (right), testified in support of the utility's rate
increase request in June. The company has been awarded most of what it
asked for. (Pat Richard/CBC)
Although broadly granting N.B. Power most of the $320-million rate increase the utility requested over two years, Stewart noted a couple of exceptions.
He said a request by the company to unify monthly service charges between rural, urban and seasonal residential customers has been rejected.
N.B.
Power tried to merge its cheaper urban, and more expensive rural and
seasonal monthly service charges, into one category but the EUB has
rejected the idea. (N.B. Power/Facebook)
"The board orders N.B. Power to maintain the distinction between rural and urban residential customers," said Stewart.
That does not affect the overall value of the increase to the utility but it will require raising the current $28.27 per month charge on rural and seasonal customers by about $1.33 per month. That will be offset by urban residential customers having their monthly service charge lowered by $1.29.
Stewart said the board will consider merging the three groups in a future "rate design" hearing.
In a second variance from N.B. Power's application, Stewart said the board had decided to approve 3.7 fewer "forced loss," or breakdown days, at the Point Lepreau nuclear generating station next year than the utility had requested.
Stewart said N.B. Power will have to calculate how much that change reduces the April 1, 2025, rate increase but it is unlikely to move it more than just tenths of one per cent.
Residential customers may not feel that increase, however. Premier Susan Holt has pledged to try and drop the province's 10 per cent sales tax on residential electricity bills by April 1, close to the same amount residential rates are set to increase on the same day.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Reporter
Robert Jones has been a reporter and producer with CBC New Brunswick since 1990. His investigative reports on petroleum pricing in New Brunswick won several regional and national awards and led to the adoption of price regulation in 2006.
Some households would save $750 a year on electricity under Liberal proposal — but who?
Higgs government urged to stop taxing electricity, despite uncertainty over who benefits most
Robert Jones · CBC News · Posted: Nov 14, 2023 6:00 AM AST
J.D. Irving and N.B. Power tangle over electricity costs charged to big mills
Company asks EUB to change formula, but N.B. Power says this would hurt residential customers
J.D.
Irving Ltd., operator of a number mills, is N.B. Power's largest
private-sector customer and believes the utility is exaggerating how
much it costs to supply it energy. (Robert Jones/CBC)N.B. Power is asking the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board to reject recommendations being made by forestry company J.D. Irving Ltd. — recommendations that would see millions of dollars in costs the utility allots to industrial customers shifted to others, mostly residential customers.
The board has been holding a "cost allocation" hearing to examine the way N.B. Power divides up $1.87 billion in expenses among its six customer groups to help calculate rates that each group pays for electricity.
J.D. Irving Ltd. is advocating changes in the methodology N.B. Power uses that the utility argues is a self-serving attempt by JDI to escape expenses the company wants others to pay for
"It is apparent that each of the individual changes in the proposed methodology is directionally beneficial to the large industrial transmission class of which JDI is a member," N.B. Power lawyer John Furey said in the utility's written final argument.
"N.B. Power submits that the methodology proposed by JDI has the potential to create inequity because of its one-sided nature."
Furey repeated that position in his final oral arguments in front of the EUB on Thursday morning. He said that the witness hired by JDI, utility expert Patrick Bowman from Winnipeg, crafted a number of recommendations that would all serve to benefit JDI if implemented.
J.D.
Irving lawyer Glenn Zacher takes notes while N.B. Power delivers its
final argument in front of the Energy and Utilities Board about how it
divides up costs among its customers to help determine rates. (Roger Cosman/CBC)
In Furey's submission, the utility produced a table showing changes recommended by Bowman would lower $414.1 million in expenses now assigned to big mills by $24.4 million and redirect them mostly to residential customers.
"Every part of the proposed methodology, every change that is recommended by Mr. Bowman operates in a single direction," Furey told Board members. "It allocates fewer costs or more revenue to the large industrial class."
J.D. Irving and N.B. Power locked in $24M fight over electricity costs
N.B. Power instead wants the EUB to endorse the cost allocation method currently in use for its six customer groups.
Those include residential customers, municipal utilities, general service (commercial and government) customers, streetlight accounts and two industrial customer groups, divided into large and small.
N.B.
Power's Coleson Cove generating station burns oil and is so expensive
to operate it is used mostly as a last resort in winter, when homeowners
engage electric heat. (Roger Cosman/CBC)
Also endorsing the status quo on Thursday were New Brunswick's three municipal utilities, which serve large numbers of residential customers
However, JDI lawyer Glen Zacher argued the current division of the utility's expenses among groups is antiquated and does not properly assign the cost of large swings in electricity demand caused by issues such as the use of winter heating by residential customers.
Demand for electricity from N.B. Power by large mills is relatively constant daily, and year round, but demand among other groups, especially residential customers, rises and falls dramatically between winter and non-winter months and from daytime to nighttime.
The
EUB heard final arguments on Thursday about whether N.B. Power fairly
calculates the cost of serving each of its six customer groups. (Robert Jones/CBC)
In JDI's submission, Zacher argued industrial customers are wrongly charged for some of those swings in demand, including for the elevated cost of supplying expensive winter heating electricity to homes and apartments.
"N.B. Power is a strongly winter-peaking system," said Zacher who argued that the costs of daily and seasonal demand swings need to be better "allocated to the [customer] classes that cause them."
"It is our position that the board should accord very little weight to the evidence and the recommendation of N.B. Power that the status quo be maintained without any changes," Zacher said.
A decision from the Energy and Utilities Board will not be rendered for several weeks. Adopting JDI's position would not automatically lead to a change in electricity rates for any group, but it would be a major factor considered in future rate hearings.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Reporter
Robert Jones has been a reporter and producer with CBC New Brunswick since 1990. His investigative reports on petroleum pricing in New Brunswick won several regional and national awards and led to the adoption of price regulation in 2006.
David Amos
I have a fond memory of encountering Mr Jones at an EUB hearing years ago
David Amos
Deja Vu Anyone???
NB Power first full rate hearing gets questions about big paper mills
The utility has applied for a two per cent rate hike beginning on July 1
Robert Jones · CBC News · Posted: Jun 15, 2015 9:43 PM ADT
I talked to Mr. Hickey as I stepped up to the plate and began swinging away
David Amos
Content Deactivated
David Amos
Content Deactivated
I wonder if they miss me
Ronald Miller
Wait a minute, I thought things like this would all go away once Holt was premier, at least that is what the left has been telling us for the last many years, this was all Higgs.
Alex Matheson
Reply to Ronald Miller
It was all Higgs. Give Holt at least enough time to unpack for heaven's sake.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Still spinning right I see Don't you ever get dizzy?
David Amos
Reply to Alex Matheson
She has known everything for years
I think for the next 4 years, if anything is negative, we will blame Higgs, if positive, all Holt. Holt breaking a promise within 24 hours of the election, that was Higgs' fault too.
fred white
Stop molly coddling the Empire. Charge them more for stumpage. Raise their property tax assessments to the same rate as other jurisdictions such as Alberta ( especially the refinery) ....Stop allowing them to avoid paying taxes utilizing offshore accounts. If they threaten to " leave " laugh and tell them not to let the door hit their butt on the way out...
Crystal Ann
Reply to fred white
Empire is already doing a strategic review that would contemplate a "full or partial sale." I wouldn't be surprised if they did sell, and according to experts it will not be good news for Saint John and NB.
David Amos
Reply to fred white
If your dreams came true then NB would be the Place To BE after all
Kate LeBlanc
What else would one expect from JD and ilk. After all have to keep those profit margins high to keep our shareholders happy.
David Amos
Reply to Kate LeBlanc
Par for the course for the private corp
rayma allaby
didn't we just pay irvings electricity bill ...
Larry McCarthy
Reply to rayma allaby
They can't afford the bill! /s
David Amos
Reply to rayma allaby
We help them pay it
rayma allaby
Reply to Larry McCarthy
then nb power needs to cut their hydro like they would any new brunswicker who can't afford the high cost of electricity
rayma allaby
Reply to David Amos
we shouldn't have to help irving pay any of their bills.
David Amos
Reply to rayma allaby
Check my work
lins bolan
let the rich industrial people pay their full share.. why should the working class carry the expense and let the rich thrive on our backs.
David Amos
Reply to lins bolan
Ditto
Rosco holt
Is this on top of the generous subsidizes the mills already receive?
Residential customers need to be better represented at the EUB, like a lawyer that solely represents our interest, not the diluted version we have now.
Larry McCarthy
Reply to Rosco holt
What's "diluted" about it? NB Power, through their lawyer, made a good case against JDI.
David Amos
Reply to Rosco holt
I did my best while everybody laughed at my efforts
John Montgomery
Clearly large industry has not paid their fair share for a long time. They have made their profits for so long they think they are entitled to them. Let's see a wood company move to another province.
Rosco holt
Reply to John Montgomery
Any mills that move(close) should lose their lumber allocation like in Nflds-Lab did.
David Amos
Reply to John Montgomery
They are in the USA as well
David Amos
Reply to Rosco holt
Amen
Allison Ritt
Time the Irvings paid up. They helped themselves to cheap resources and labour for decades now and availed themselves of every tax break they could coerce governments into giving them. The free ride is over.
Deborah Reddon
Reply to Allison Ritt
The Irvings have taken tax aversion and avoidance to new heights.
Larry McCarthy
Reply to Deborah Reddon
Investment in expensive lawyers works like a charm and often pays off in spades!
David Amos
Reply to Larry McCarthy
Not always I have run a few off
Eugene Peabody
Irving is always wanting to get a special deal better than anyone else . I really hope to see a day when they pay their fair share for a change .
David Amos
Reply to Eugene Peabody
Me too
Al Clark
Sure, I don't mind paying more so non-resident billionaires can pay less LOL . Bring it!
David Amos
Reply to Al Clark
Surely you know that your jokes don't fly anymore
June Arnott
Irving needs more money in their off shore accounts while NBers suffer
Rosco holt
Reply to June Arnott
Why would they care? We are just peasants to be exploited for their benefit. Government are all too happy to please the overlord.
David Amos
Reply to Rosco holt
I concur
Doug kirby
No higgs to protect them now
David Amos
Reply to Doug kirby
Dream on
David Amos
Reply to Doug kirby
Who is the Chair of the EUB?
Tom
Reply to Doug kirby
What a ridiculous statement. The Liberal policy over the years has been no different regarding Irving. Free rides continue.
Al Clark
Reply to David Amos
You might think a guy who claims to practically run it would know that ;-)
Jos Allaire
Reply to Doug kirby
His successor will be told how it's done and will soon fall in line.
David Amos
Reply to Al Clark
You know as well as I its JD Irving's old lawyer
David Amos
Reply to Jos Allaire
He knew the wicked game before he was appointed
John Dutton
Here you go Holt this is your moment to shine!
Tom
Reply to John Dutton
That is funny.
Crystal Ann
Reply to John Dutton
Not a chance, she has already stated she would not interfere between NB power and EUB
David Amos
Reply to Crystal Ann
Go Figure
Allan Marven
This is where the premier needs to step in.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Allan Marven
Now John Herron as minister of natural resources gets to oversee his old buddies in the EUB for the continuing benefit of you know who
Crystal Ann
Reply to Allan Marven
Not a chance, she's been vocal in the pass about interfering in NB power and EUB
David Amos
Reply to Allan Marven
Bigtime Bingo
scott crandall
Maybe during those peak demand times, the oil refinery could provide discounted fuel for Coleson Cove. No? Um, yeah, I thought so.
Here's another perspective, instead of seeing residential users' peak demand raising the cost of power, maybe residential users' lesser demand in non peak times should be seen as being the reason that there are times when power costs are lower. No? Funny how the "perspective" we choose can suit ourselves.
David Amos
Reply to scott crandall
None of this nonsense is funny
Jack Straw
What kind of world do we live in when Irving gets to sell power back to NB Power and now they are complaining about their rates? Nothing Irving wants is going to help anyone but Irving. That is a no brainer.
Allan Marven
Reply to Jack Straw
The American electorate is going to learn that lesson again too.
Rosco holt
Reply to Allan Marven
We will learn that lesson too, I'm sure Trump will take aim at Canada.
David Amos
Reply to Jack Straw
Yup
Les Cooper
Everyone should pay for the electricity that they use!
Allan Marven
Reply to Les Cooper
The same amount per kwh.
David Webb
Reply to Les Cooper
Really?
David Amos
Reply to Les Cooper
"Should" is a big word
NB Power first full rate hearing gets questions about big paper mills
The utility has applied for a two per cent rate hike beginning on July 1
Hickey registered to participate as a concerned citizen at the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board hearing. (CBC)Multi million dollar subsidies NB Power is forced to provide the province's big paper mills took centre stage at the utility's rate hearing Monday with a retired NB Power engineer criticizing the practice as thinly veiled corporate welfare.
"I'd like to understand the program and I would like all the documentation that's available on the program that will explain it to people," said Gregory Hickey as he questioned a panel of NB Power executives about the practice of buying renewable energy from paper mills and reselling it back to them at a substantial loss.
"I think the people of this province deserve to know,"
NB Power is in front of the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board for its first full rate hearing, where all of its operations are open to scruitny, since 1993.
The utility has applied for a modest two per cent rate hike beginning on July 1, but for the first time in 22 years the application requires full disclosure and that is subjecting the utility to some tough questioning.
Hickey registered to participate as a concerned citizen and was given wide latitude by EUB Chairman Ray Gorman to ask NB Power any questions he had, with the same standing as the corporate lawyer for Enbridge who went before him and the corporate lawyer for JD Irving who came after.
Hickey made the most of his chance.
I think the people of this province deserve to know.
- Gregory Hickey
He was especially curious about NB Power's Large Industrial Renewable Energy Purchase Program which was unveiled by the Alward government in 2011.
It requires NB Power to buy renewable electricity generated by paper mills at a high price - mostly hydro and biomass - and then sell it back to the companies at a low price to help bring their power costs down.
NB Power says in the first 27 months of the program it bought 858.9 thousand megawatt hours (mwh) of electricity from the mills for $81.6 million and then sold it back to the mills at $57.2 million.
NB Power lost $24.2 million on those transactions and Hickey told the hearing if the utility is rich enough to subsidize industry, it should be denied a rate increase.
Forestry company JD Irving Ltd. is one of the biggest users of the program and its lawyer at the hearing Gary Lawson tried to argue the $95 per mw/h mills are paid for power is the going rate - and a fair price - for renewable energy.
But NB Power has already disclosed in the hearing it only pays $84 for wind energy and NB Power's director of strategic planning and regulatory affairs, Neil Larlee, hinted current renewable prices are much lower than that.
"The price has actually come down in the last couple of years," said Larlee.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Reporter
Robert Jones has been a reporter and producer with CBC New Brunswick since 1990. His investigative reports on petroleum pricing in New Brunswick won several regional and national awards and led to the adoption of price regulation in 2006.
David Amos
David Amos
I talked to Mr. Hickey as I stepped up to the plate and began swinging away
JTCNB1
Thank you Mr. Hickey for opening the eyes of all New Brunswickers!
As other people have said, the EUB should be demanding that NB Power drop its rates to the general public!
David Amos
Reply to JTCNB1
Dream on
DennisofDouglas
Good to hear from you Greg. After guys like you and I have seen some of the BS that happened to NB Power after MacKenna was elected and Art O'Connor was fed up with Gov't meddling, we become knowledgably cynical. Well stated Greg.
David Amos
Reply to DennisofDouglas
Hmmm
stevenaustin
Echoing the same concern raised by others on this subject - the current Liberal government which recently targeted seniors who are included in the group of "'those that can afford to pay more will be asked to do so" - makes this question raised by Mr.Hickey all the more important - apparently we are not even asking industry to pay their fair share under this energy purchase program - call it what it is - another gift or subsidy - when we are broke as a province with 12Billion in debt - citizens should be outraged .Industry will bemoan that job losses will result in cancellation of this welfare - bully capitalism and corporate welfare must end - wouldnt 24 million go a long way to keep some of our schools on the chopping block open - no com[pany would sign contracts to intentionally operate at a loss and it should be illegal of our government to do so when dealing with our money!
David Amos
Reply to stevenaustin
Listen to what the latest mandate is saying today
J.D. Irving and N.B. Power tangle over electricity costs charged to big mills
Company asks EUB to change formula, but N.B. Power says this would hurt residential customers
Robert Jones · CBC News · Posted: Nov 07, 2024 5:51 PM AST
Methinks the latest minister of natural resources is a nervous camper today N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to David Amos
John Dutton
Here you go Holt this is your moment to shine!
Tom
Reply to John Dutton
That is funny.
Crystal Ann
Reply to John Dutton
Not a chance, she has already stated she would not interfere between NB power and EUB
David Amos
Reply to Crystal Ann
Go Figure
Reply to David Amos
Energy and Utilities Board grants utility almost all of its requested rate increase
Robert Jones · CBC News · Posted: Nov 08, 2024 2:10 PM AST
"Residential customers may not feel that increase, however. Premier Susan Holt has pledged to try and drop the province's 10 per cent sales tax on residential electricity bills by April 1, close to the same amount residential rates are set to increase on the same day."
whatfreespeech
Shame on us all for allowing so, so much of this to go on.
Class action lawsuit anyone????
2Right4U
Content Deactivated
Who would we sue? Ourselves for keeping electing these clowns?
David Amos
Reply to 2Right4U
Good question
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Everybody knows I sued the Queen
Why is it we keep electing people who reach into our pockets and steal from us and still afford them respect they never earn and certainly don't deserve?
2Right4U
Reply to gs1000s
because they said they would do things differently than the thieves that were in power.
David Amos
Reply to 2Right4U
Oh So True
This should be the straw that breaks the Irving's sweet deal with NB Power! !
The corporate welfare ENDS HERE JD!
Rosco
Reply to JusPasn
But Irving owns the government.
2Right4U
Reply to Get them out
Or least the "back room boys" who control the government - all three "leading" parties (Lib/Con/Dper)
Rosco
Reply to 2Right4U
There's only been 2 leading party in the province Libs & CONS and we don't know if NDP are bought yet since they've never been in power.
David Amos
Reply to 2Right4U
Yup
Corporate greed from the Irving's with political acceptance from the id!0ts in suits has destroyed this once great province. When does it stop.
Rosco
Reply to Liberal Boondoggles aka taxedtodeath
When we start jailed the lot of them for fraud and corruption.
David Amos
Reply to Rosco
Expect your wish to come true on or about the 12th of Never
Thank you Mr. Hickey. I wish there were more people like you who would come forward to tell it like it is. The people of this province not only need to know ... they deserve better. Why are people not being charged with theft?
David Amos
Reply to Ken
What am I chopped liver?
Atticus_Finch
In addition, the electricity is generated by burning biomass that they buy from the Province of New Brunswick at a highly discounted rate. I would not be surprised if the NB also provided a subsidy for the boiler as well. No wonder we are the Greece of North America...
David Amos
Reply to Atticus_Finch
Nothing surprises me anymore
Daddybear
Special energy rates, special water rates, special tax rates for the most wealthy who need it the least at the expense of everyone else who has to leave the province to find a future. Why don't people care? I suppose a story like this would not make the front page of the print media AKA The Irving family Newsletters. People have no idea what is happening in back room deals until it's too late.
David Amos
Reply to Daddybear
Thats the reason for a back room deal
Brenda
I assumed there had already been an increase in the power rates. My power bill increased $100 per month, over the same time last year, for the months of Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, and Apr. That's $100 per month needed for grocery money. What kind of men want their fellowmen to go hungry?
David Amos
Reply to Brenda
Greedy men
olddawn
It would be nice what the "Short Term energy purchases" are and where they are from because " approximately 25 to 35 per cent of total supply requirements, and approximately 50 to 55 per cent of total fuel and purchased power costs (p. 24)." Last report was $580M (p. 32) so we spent around $290M for 23-35% of our power. No deal for NBers. . http://www.nbpower.com/.../
I think, NB Power should rebuild the dam with two more turbines -- highly efficient renewable dispatchable power -- but do it without "partners". Plus, I think the power is from Emera's 285MW Bayside Power and Irving's Grandview Power Generating Plant. NB Power foes not own a natural gas fired plan but Emera and Irving do.
And, it is interesting the Irving owed the 285MW Bayside Power Plant until 2009 when they sold it to Emera. In Nova Scotia Emera is Nova Scotia Power -- so tey collect the revenue from ratepayers. The mills are also putting power on the grid using natural gas
NB Power needs to fire up the super clean 1000MW Coleson Cove Power Generator and whole take back the grid. NB Power was both the producer and deliverer of power until Bernard Lord opened it for private producers.
NB has been plundered by Irving. Heroes like Gregory Hickey are rising.
2Right4U
Reply to olddawn
Rebuild the dam - yes - two turbines would require more research.
As water flows through the slouch ways to get to the turbines, the water heats up which affects the temperature (thus fish, etc.) downstream
David Amos
Reply to olddawn
RIP JJanet
David Amos
Reply to olddawn
You are one of my Heroes
The good news is that these subsidies are documented and able to be discussed. Back in the 90's, the government of the day removed NB Power from regulatory oversight and promptly dropped the rates charged such large customers, reducing them well below the regulated rate and the cost of service. And they kept them that low until the company became such a basket case that it had to go back under regulation, in the 2000's. They jacked up the rates at that time, in order to be in compliance with the lawfully ordered rates, and cause a great deal of stress for the companies tbat saw a sudden increase in their costs.
2Right4U
Reply to Roy Kirk
1990s - wasn't that Frankie
Rosco
Reply to 2Right4U
Yep Godfather Franky McKenna the worst government to take power. We still feel the effects from his time in office.
David Amos
Reply to 2Right4U
Yup
David Amos
Reply to Rosco
Yup
mad as hell
Of course Irving is involved. How does the Irving family sleep at night knowing that it is them that is causing the Maritimes to go broke? when is enough enough? time to break up the monopoly! The Irvings are crooks that would steal candy from a baby and then mark it up and re-sell it!
teg beck
Reply to mad as hell
Arrogance and greed has no conscience .
Rosco
Reply to mad as hell
They sleep very well on mattress full of money.
David Amos
Reply to teg beck
That is the awful truth
tomkatt
can of ironic that gary lawson sits on the anti poverty board and then comes to this hearing telling us what a great deal we are getting.
Liberal Boondoggles aka taxedtodeath
Reply to tomkatt
There is a reason lawyers are the lowest of the low on the food chain.
Tam
Reply to tomkatt
After reading taxedtodeath's reply I submit that this whole thread is a 'can of ironic'...
David Amos
Reply to Tam
Why do you think there are so many jokes about the bottom feeders?
Underdog5555
For God's sake will someone please stand up to the Irvings before they drive us into bankruptcy?
Rosco
Reply to Underdog5555
It may be too late.
no more1755
Reply to Underdog5555
to late you are bankrupt
David Amos
Reply to Underdog5555
Been there done that while everyone laughed at me
Subsidies for any and every Project, Property Tax Breaks, Income Tax Breaks, Subsidized Electricity, Twenty Five Years Crown Money Loosing Contracts, Canaport LNG Secret Property tax Deal, St.John Water Deal, Crown Lands and Forest Act, Forestry Royalties, Protected Area Secret Deal, Forestry Tolerance Impacting Negatively on Fish and Wild Life populations, Habitat loss to name a few , WHO IS MANAGING THESE BANKRUPT GENERATING NEW BRUNSWICK DEALS AND WHY???
Rosco
Reply to Paul Bourgoin aka RoaterB
WHO IS MANAGING THESE BANKRUPT GENERATING NEW BRUNSWICK DEALS AND WHY???
Backroom political hacks that get plumb jobs/ deals/ paychecks.
In other words it's done in the name of greed.
David Amos
Reply to Rosco
Yup
Commonsense 1
Yet another example of Alward bending over backwards for the Irvings. Add up all the money he paid the Irvings through the back door it is scary
2Right4U
Reply to Commonsense 1
just like the liberals before and after him and lord before graham and McKenna before lord and . . .
It is past time we voted in another option
David Amos
Reply to 2Right4U
I put my name on 8 ballots in order to debate them Intervened at the NEB and the EUB and sued the Queen What did you do?
Fundy Coast
Everything in NB is paid for on the backs of the little guy, we get NO political representation, all we get is greedy leaders who want more and more of our money.
2Right4U
Reply to Fundy Coast
In Canada, we elect people to GOVERN us not REPRESENT us.
David Amos
Reply to 2Right4U
Bingo
MCJ2015
Take a deep breath and everyone say QUEBEC HYDRO!!!!!!!!!!
Rosco
Reply to MCJ2015
Can you say getting royally screwed.
Underdog5555
Reply to MCJ2015
I agree. Hydro Quebec is a well-run, profitable company. We certainly cannot say the same for NB Power. We should beg HQ to buy NB Power.
Roy Kirk
Reply to Underdog5555
How do you know this? They are a Crown Corp., a class of companies that are notoriously creative in their book-keeping.
Rosco
Reply to Underdog5555
You forget our government is the worst at negotiating deals that's good for NBers & the province. They usually sellout to whomever business they negotiate with.
David Amos
Reply to Underdog5555
Hydro Quebec was clever enough to back away from the NB Power headache
LeMax
So, it's legal to cheat the NB taxpayers?
DennisofDouglas
Reply to LeMax
Yes..now be quiet!!! (sarcasm intended)
David Amos
Reply to LeMax
Everything is legal as long as you have the powerful lawyers
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Mon, Jul 29, 2024 at 5:21 PM
Subject: Re: Meet the man on a mission to lower NB Power bills
To: blaine.higgs <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, Mitton, Megan (LEG) <megan.mitton@gnb.ca>, David.Coon <David.Coon@gnb.ca>, keith.chiasson <keith.chiasson@gnb.ca>, jacques.j.leblanc <jacques.j.leblanc@gnb.ca>, jean-claude.d'amours <jean-claude.d'amours@gnb.ca>, robert.mckee <robert.mckee@gnb.ca>, robert.gauvin <robert.gauvin@gnb.ca>, Mark.Blakely <Mark.Blakely@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, martin.gaudet <martin.gaudet@fredericton.ca>
Low-income electricity customers in N.B. made to compete with others for help
N.B. Power criticized for not prioritizing those who need assistance the most
N.B.
Power headquarters in Fredericton. The utility faced criticism Monday
for not prioritizing help it offers customers to those in greatest need. (Shane Fowler/CBC)Low-income electricity customers in New Brunswick have to compete with moderate-income customers for help with efficiency and other cost-saving upgrades, N.B. Power's rate hearing heard Monday.
That makes it difficult to get assistance to those who need help the most quickly, according to Jennifer Kallay, a Massachusetts-based expert in utility "demand-side" management programs.
"Most utilities start with low income and subsequently add moderate income over time, so those two populations are distinct," said Kallay about how other jurisdictions generally try and help low-income customers first.
"In some cases the programs are separate, the incentives are separate and the designs are different for those two populations."
In February, N.B. Power disclosed it was sorting through 12,335 applications from low- and moderate-income customers who have applied for various energy assistance programs funded by the federal and provincial governments and administered by N.B. Power.
Those include programs to help people replace oil furnaces with heat pumps, improve insulation, replace windows and make other upgrades.
Jennifer
Kallay is a Massachusetts-based expert on utility "demand-side"
management programs. She said N.B. Power is unable to focus help on
low-income customers first because it has not identified who they are. (Submitted by Synapse Energy Economics Inc.)
Because of the high volume of applications for help, it's expected that some households will have to wait for up to two years for assistance. Kallay said N.B. Power is hampered in directing aid to the lowest-income households first because it does not distinguish between those and other households.
"They do not have a threshold that would delineate the difference between a low-income and moderate-income customer for this purpose," said Kallay, who was hired by the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board to analyze N.B. Power programs as part of its ongoing rate hearing.
N.B. Power is currently in front of the EUB asking for an average 19.4 per cent rate increase spread over two years, including a 9.25 per cent increase this year and another 9.25 per cent increase beginning next April.
Proposed increases to residential and large industrial customers are even higher, totalling 20.6 per cent over the two years.
The effect of those increases on low-income groups has been examined in some depth during the hearings with the participation of community groups specifically concerned with those issues, including the Saint John Human Development Council and the New Brunswick Coalition of Persons with Disabilities.
On Monday, the Human Development Council called its own witnesses who testified New Brunswick lacks sufficient programs to help lower-income families deal with the size of the rate increase N.B. Power is seeking.
"Rate increases like this can have significant impacts upon households, especially those that are low income," said the council's Heather Atcheson.
Heather
Atcheson is a researcher with the Saint John Human Development Council.
She told N.B. Power's rate hearing that a 20 per cent increase in
electricity prices over two years will hit low-income families the
hardest. (Submitted by Heather Atcheson)
"When people are already struggling to meet basic needs for housing and eating, it amplifies the overall experience of poverty and hardship on families."
N.B. Power has argued there is little it can do to create programs for low-income customers without specific direction from the provincial government.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Reporter
Robert Jones has been a reporter and producer with CBC New Brunswick since 1990. His investigative reports on petroleum pricing in New Brunswick won several regional and national awards and led to the adoption of price regulation in 2006.
https://davidraymondamos3.
Saturday 20 July 2024
Meet the man on a mission to lower NB Power bills
From: Cross, Sarah (LTGOV) <Sarah.Cross@gnb.ca>
Date: Mon, Jul 29, 2024 at 3:50 PM
Subject: Automatic reply: Meet the man on a mission to lower NB Power bills
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
I am currently out of the office. Please contact Judy Wagner if you require immediate assistance at judy.wagner@gnb.ca.
Je suis absente du bureau. Si vous avez besoin des informations, veuillez contacter Judy Wagner au judy.wagner@gnb.ca.
From: Fitch, Bruce Hon. (DH/MS) <Bruce.Fitch@gnb.ca>
Date: Mon, Jul 29, 2024 at 3:50 PM
Subject: Automatic reply: Meet the man on a mission to lower NB Power bills
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for your email. Your thoughts, comments and input are greatly valued. You can be assured that all emails and letters are carefully read, reviewed and taken into consideration.
If your request is Constituency relate, please contact Kathy Connors, Executive Assistant, at my Constituency office in Riverview at Kathy.Connors@gnb.ca or by phone at 506-869-6117.
Thanks again for your email.
Hon. Bruce Fitch
MLA for Riverview
------------------------------
Merci pour votre courriel. Nous vous sommes très reconnaissants de nous avoir fait part de vos idées. Nous tenons à vous assurer que nous lisons attentivement et prenons en considération tous les courriels et les lettres que nous recevons.
Si votre demande est liée à la circonscription, veuillez contacter Kathy Connors à mon bureau de circonscription à Riverview à Kathy.Connors@gnb.ca ou par téléphone au 506-869-6117.
Merci encore pour votre courriel.
L'hon. Bruce Fitch
Député de Riverview
From: Moore, Rob - M.P. <Rob.Moore@parl.gc.ca>
Date: Mon, Jul 29, 2024 at 3:50 PM
Subject: Automatic reply: Meet the man on a mission to lower NB Power bills
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for contacting the Honourable Rob Moore, P.C., M.P. office. We appreciate the time you took to get in touch with our office.
If you did not already, please ensure to include your full contact details on your email and the appropriate staff will be able to action your request. We strive to ensure all constituent correspondence is responded to in a timely manner.
If your question or concern is time sensitive, please call our office: 506-832-4200.
Again, we thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Office of the Honourable Rob Moore, P.C., M.P.
Member of Parliament for Fundy Royal
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