RE NB Power Heather Black says "Parties to the approval proceeding are able to dig more deeply and ask the utility questions" I say YEA RIGHT

https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies




David Raymond Amos‏ @DavidRayAmos

Replying to @DavidRayAmos @Kathryn98967631 and 49 others

RE NB Power CEO Gaëtan Thomas says "There's nothing stopping us from talking to our customers and get some feedback"

Methinks what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander N'esy Pas?


https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2019/01/re-nb-power-heather-black-says-parties.html

 #nbpoli #cdnpoli 


 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/smart-meters-nb-power-1.4973785

NB Power launches PR campaign for revived smart meter plan

137 Comments 
Commenting is now closed for this story.

 David R. Amos

"There's nothing [stopping] us from talking to our customers and get some feedback,"

Methinks what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander N'esy Pas?

Opting out smart meter program could cost NB Power customers

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/eub-hearings-nb-power-smart-meters-1.4529640

"Smart meter opponent Roger Richard, right, leads a group worried about human health problems caused by long term exposure to the devices"

Roger Richard

When are we going to see an article about the health effects of those devices?

David R. Amos

@Roger Richard Need I say Never? However

Wifi, Microwaves and the Consequences to our Health - Barrie Trower
242,538 views

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z99_SzoXZdY

Smart Meters
2,036,267 views

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JNFr_j6kdI

Stephanie Haslam

Here is a good overview of smart meter pitfalls. The pivotal line is: "A few experts suggest that smart-meter conversion represents little more than a boondoggle that is being foisted on consumers by the politically influential companies that make the hardware and software that are required for the smart-meter conversion." We know all about politically influential companies in this place. http://www.consumersdigest.com/special-reports/why-smart-meters-might-be-a-dumb-idea

David R. Amos

@Stephanie Haslam I repeat folks need to download the transcripts of the EUB hearingsfrom last year if they are truly concerned about smart meter coming to New Brunswick (BTW they are already in Saint John)

David R. Amos 

@Stephanie Haslam Please pay particular attention to the work of my friend Roger Richard

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-rate-hearing-eub-1.4544322

"Several self-represented participants have been taking turns questioning NB Power's plans on an equal footing with lawyers hired by companies, like J.D. Irving Ltd. and Enbridge Gas New Brunswick, and municipal utilities like Saint John Energy.

Gently guided on proper procedure by Beaulieu, non-professional participants have had free rein to have a say.

Anti-smart meter activist and St. Louis de Kent dentist Roger Richard, left, and environmentalist Daniel LeBlanc spent hours questioning NB Power witnesses. (Robert Jones/CBC NEWS)

Those participants include environmentalist Chris Rouse, anti-smart meter activist and St. Louis de Kent dentist Roger Richard and political hopeful Gerald Bourque, the leader of the fledgling KISS N.B. Political Party.

They've been able to submit evidence, call witnesses and cross-examine NB Power executives and others and make motions."






 
Paul Bourgoin

NB Power needs to take the politics out of NB Power management to administer, supervise and manage NB POWER it to benefit New Brunswick Residents, and terminate those industry behind closed doors SWEET HEART DEALS!!

Shawn McShane

@Paul Bourgoin What I do know about provincial government is the fact that they suck every last drop out of a public utility and when those people are out of government they get jobs with the privatized utility.

Key BC Liberal insiders hired by private power...government insiders, the private power industry has provided massive financial donations to the BC Liberal party

David R. Amos

@Paul Bourgoin Methinks NB Power's biggest sweet hearts of all can be found within the Irving Clan N'esy Pas?

 
George Matthews

If the smart meters will create a savings then why do they to increase our rates? If we put in smart meters when will rates go down?

If it won't save enough to prevent rate increases or won't save enough to commit to lowering rates. Why should we support these going in?

Very simple questions now nbpower give us the answers.

David R. Amos

@George Matthews "Very simple questions now nbpower give us the answers"

Nope

 
daryl doucette

Imagine the " kick back" on a 122 million dollar deal....Brian Mulroneys $ 75,000 bucks in the brown envelope from the Germans re the air plane deal " back in the day" will pale in comparison to this one....

David R. Amos

@daryl doucette Methinks you may enjoy Googling the following quote and my name N'esy Pas?

I have to caution you this is not a game --- Karl Karlheinz Schreiber

 
Shawn McShane

Seems to me no one wants the meters except for two people who may or may not have a vested interest in these so called "smart meters." When a crown corporation gets pilfered by government the rates sky-rocket.

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Government+grabbing+cash+from+ICBC+Hydro+they+raise+rates+charges/9527548/story.html

David R. Amos

@Shawn McShane "@David Guitard You are not going to save money, NB Power will raise rates to offset the $133 million + costs to install them all. Off-peak is late night and the middle of day when kids are in school and parents are at work."

Methinks you should review my replies as well N'esy Pas?

Shawn McShane

@David R. Amos 1971 5 Man Electrical Band.

David R. Amos

@Shawn McShane Methinks many folks will agree that that is not even remotely funny N'esy Pas?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/trapper-furbearer-convention-fredericton-1.4975136

Amid skinning demos and pelt-handling contests, trappers focus on future

Shawn McShane

This is the kind of thing that you should keep to yourselves, if you need these skins to survive a brutal winter for warmth is a different story. Heck I even understand eating squirrel, but to see coyote, fox and beaver carcasses...its too much. I feel grossed out.

Content disabled.

David R. Amos

@Shawn McShane Methinks there is more than one way to skin a cat and nobody should deny that I am always up for an education N'esy Pas?

@Shawn McShane "1971 5 Man Electrical Band."

This was my response as the comment section closed

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/smart-meters-nb-power-1.4973785

Page is closed to commenting.
David R. Amos

Mr Higgs and his cohorts won't tell you but on October 12th, 2018 the EUB 357 Matter began again

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/eub-hearing-nb-power-rate-design-smart-meters-1.4305685

Whereas the EUB allowed Dominic Cardy's wife to intervene a full year and a half after the matter had begun they also had to allow my friend Roger Richard to intervene as well. The board did not know what to do about scheduling hearings etc because they had no idea which political party was going to oversee them for the next few years so they decided to look for someone to advise them and adjourned the hearings until a later date. However they had done that once already despite my protest and barred be for the 375 Matter. Methinks now that the 357 Matter is underway again its gonna be a circus N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos

@Shawn McShane "1971 5 Man Electrical Band."

Methinks I feel grossed out too but not by carcasses just your sarcasm N'esy Pas?

 
daryl doucette

" transmit it wirelessly to the utility".....how many working stiffs are they planning to " lay off" after spending 122 million dollars? I say leave it the way it is, save the 122 million, keep the " metre men/ladies employed.....and if they want to make " cuts" start ate top, not the bottom.

David R. Amos

@daryl doucette I agree In fact all the politicians know I have being saying it since I Intervened in the EUB hearings in 2017

 
Aaron Allison

It's Time for a Forensic Audit into NB Power, it's also time time to hand out, some Pink slips starting at the top.

David R. Amos

@Aaron Allison Methinks folks should ask me what I know about NB Power's auditors KPMG Trust that the Crown never will N'esy Pas?

 
John Valcourt

No thanks, you can be sure NB Power isn't doing this to try to save us money. They are doing this to try and get more of it and thanks but no thanks, I can't afford you now.

David R. Amos

@John Valcourt You are wise

 
Dan Flanagan

The $1,800 I paid NB Power to heat & power my 1,400 sq. ft. 60 year old bungalow last year was very reasonable. Most people pay more for wood heat alone & much more for oil heat alone. Not sure what all the negativity is all about. Check out the rates in Ontario as a comparison.

Shawn McShane

@Dan Flanagan Cost of electricity has soared 82 per cent since 2010, when smart meters and "time of use" pricing started becoming the norm for Ontario households.

NB has the lowest median family wage in Canada the highest taxes and is tied for first place for the highest rate of children living in poverty.

Arliss Wilson

@Shawn McShane NB Power rates have risen less than 2% per year. Where do you get the 82% since 2010? Also, NB Power not yet have time of day billing.

Shawn McShane

@Arliss Wilson Cost of electricity has soared 82 per cent since 2010, when smart meters and "time of use" pricing started becoming the norm for >>>>>>>Ontario households.

Dan Flanagan

@Shawn McShane
That wasn't because of the meters. They really mismanaged Hydro, financially, politically.
Your comment about NB being a have-not province implies NB Power should lower it rates. The gov't welfare system subsidizes electricity for low income families, not a competitive utility. NB Power has a lot of financial hurdles in the future; let them get on with their job.

Tim Raworth

@Dan Flanagan Its the commercial customers that are paying the highest rates in the country and residential rates are amount the lowest. The problem is how to fix this with as little pain as possible. Commercial rates should be lower to keep and attract business but a lot of home owners cant afford an increase.

Shawn McShane

@Dan Flanagan My comment stating NB has the lowest median family wage in Canada the highest taxes and is tied for first place for children living in poverty doesn't mean NB Power should lower its rates, it means we cannot afford higher rates. My family is taxed out. Seriously thinking of leaving. The property tax alone in 10 years has gone up to $500 per month. It isn't worth that. We can't sell it for the assessed value.

Arliss Wilson

@Tim Raworth Not sure where you are getting your data but General Service (Commercial) and Small an Large industrial rates are the cheapest in the Maritimes and cheaper than many other provinces.

Fred Brewer

@Dan Flanagan
Your vigorous defense of NB Power sounds like you might have a vested interest.
Perhaps you are an employee or related to an employee?

David R. Amos

@Fred Brewer Methinks that many would agree that something smells pretty fishy N'esy Pas?

Dan Flanagan

@Fred Brewer
I'm retired. No relatives at or business with NB Power & never worked for them. I don't think NB P is out to screw the consumer. I feel utilities need to have enough revenue to provide for the future & be competitive & efficient. But smart meters should save many users money. Remember, the gov't has control over rate increases. I trust NB Power more than the government.

Shawn McShane

@Dan Flanagan The government pilfers money from NB Power.

David R. Amos

@Dan Flanagan Whereas you are retired consider studying the transcripts of the EUB Hearings about Smart Meters etc

 
Mark (Junkman) George

The only thing "smart" would be to fire the total management of NB Hydro and find some folks with simple common sense to replace them.

David R. Amos

@Mark (Junkman) George i concur

 
SV Obsession R

One step closer to Peak hour rates....

David R. Amos

@SV Obsession R YUP

 
Lou Bell

One way or another Thomas and his cronies are gonna keep trying for a Bonus increase.

David R. Amos

@Lou Bell YUP

 
Thomas Imber

Once smart meters are implemented, the next step is "time-of-use" pricing, which sees higher rates applied during the day and lower rates at night. This negatively affects those who are at home during the day, such as seniors and families with young children at home, who have to pay more to use energy during the day.

This is what happened in Ontario (along with a significant price increase too all rates).

Fred Brewer

@Thomas Imber
Actually the peak times in NB are from 6 AM to 9 AM and then from 4PM to 8 PM.
So power will be expensive during those times and normally priced between 9AM to 4PM.

David R. Amos

@Thomas Imber This ain't rocket science

 
Colin Seeley

Don’t like it.

Save $ 100,000,000.

Say no.

David R. Amos

@Colin Seeley Tell it to your hero Higgs

 
Thomas Fitzpatrick

A 1 million dollar loss to a 10 million dollar profit?? Those numbers definitely need scrutiny. The accountants at NB Power and the meter supply company must have had a busy year. Are those numbers based on the acceptance of smart meters by ALL customers? And what is the penalty for not accepting a smart meter? Some utilities charge a hefty monthly fee for not accepting a smart meter. NB Power can't meet their fiscal targets now and they want to spend another 22 million on smart meters with questionable benefits.

David R. Amos

@Thomas Fitzpatrick Methinks the number is ONE HUNDRED and 22.7 million N'esy Pas?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/eub-hearings-nb-power-smart-meters-1.4529640

"NB Power is in front of the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board seeking permission to spend $122.7 million to install 350,000 smart meters province wide."

 
Jonas Smith

Any introduction os smart meters WITHOUT time of day pricing will get a HUGE NO from this household. Want me to start washing and dishwashing at night, give the consumer an incentive. Saving NB Power money so they can give out performance raises to their executive doesn't make me want to help them out. This province is sdrawkcab

stephen blunston

@Jonas Smith no management at NB power has ever performed well but they keep getting those big bonuses and salaries it is disgraceful

Shawn McShane

@Jonas Smith Ontario's smart meters failing to cut electricity demand- CBC
Time-of-use pricing was supposed to shift hydro customers' use away from peak periods. "It really was a price hike for everyone who used less than 600 kWh a month," said Luft. "What it really did is it dropped the price for heavy users [of electricity] and raised the price for low users."

Dan Flanagan

@Shawn McShane
You know 600kwh only costs $100 in NB (service & HST incl.) How much cheaper do you think it can get?

Shawn McShane

@Dan Flanagan My August bill:
661 kWh $93.97
Monthly service charge $21.85
HST $15.09
______________
$130.91 in the summer time without using nothing. No dryer we have a clothesline, no air conditioner, cooked on BBQ, energy efficient appliances and even went away for a week!

David R. Amos

@Shawn McShane Methinks you should check my work within the EUB ASAP N'esy Pas?

 
Shawn McShane

Energy-saving LED light bulbs and dimmer switches actually "change the shape" of electrical currents and distort readings by smart meters . A Dutch study found this resulted in readings up to six times higher than they should have been. Big win for NB Power, huge loss for everyone else who switched to LED when CFLs and regular bulbs were phased out.

Arliss Wilson

@Shawn McShane Can you provide a link to the study you reference?

Shawn McShane

@Arliss Wilson Journal Reference: Frank Leferink, Cees Keyer, Anton Melentjev. Static energy meter errors caused by conducted electromagnetic interference. IEEE Electromagnetic Compatibility Magazine, 2016; 5 (4): 49 DOI: 10.1109/MEMC.2016.7866234

University of Twente. "Electronic energy meters' false readings almost six times higher than actual energy consumption." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 3 March 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170303180139.htm>.

David R. Amos

@Shawn McShane Hmmm

 
Gerry Ferguson

I don't want one on my house.

Dan Flanagan

@Gerry Ferguson
WHY ?

Shawn McShane

@Dan Flanagan An investigation by BBC Watchdog, which aired in late July, raised questions about the links between smart meters and fires. It was not clear whether the meters themselves were at fault or their installation caused the fires.

Dan Flanagan

@Shawn McShane
I'm sure it's a problem that has been addressed & cured. There are always glitches when new systems are installed.

Shawn McShane

@Dan Flanagan Don't think so. They were rolled out in the UK 2009 and are still having problems. The Government had originally said that every household would be set up with a smart meter by 2020 - and nearly seven million have been installed so far - but in June the Government subtly downgraded this requirement. Now every home will be "offered" a smart meter by 2020, with no obligation to take one.

David R. Amos

@Dan Flanagan "WHY ?"

Methinks you should talk to Roger Richard or me if you truly care. Everybody knows that our contact information is on record within the 375 and the 357 matters of the EUB N'esy Pas?

Roger Richard

@Dan Flanagan Read Dr. Héroux testimony in NBEUB’s matter #375. It is in the fourth, fifth or sixth days of the hearing.

 
Bernard McIntyre

And how much wasted money is this costing.

Shawn McShane

@Bernard McIntyre The utility is planning public consultations before it brings the $122-million smart meter plan

Fstephen blunston

@Shawn McShane so if they say will cost 122 million the actual bill probably closer to 500 million , cant trust their math or their guesses

Roger Richard

@Bernard McIntyre For a start, analog meters with the turning wheel last more than 30 years, smart meters last about 5 to 7 years.

 
Bear Brown

They are already changing them .Buddy changed mine Wednesday!!!!

Bernard McIntyre

@Bear Brown I have had one for a few years now from SJ energy.

Roger Richard

@Bear Brown These are not really smart meters if you do not live in Saint John but they are emitting anyway. Someone from Québec told me that those of us that still have analogue meter should strap it to the house. That way, NB Power has more difficulty legally to change it.

 
Irene Landry

BUT I am not at home during DAY TIME 5 Day a week, and my kid is a school and my spouse it at work. Everyone will be paying the same rate in day time (nobody home so same no saving) and then everyone home with cooking, bath, etc... I SAY NO.

Roger Richard

@Irene Landry They will charge more for electricity early in the morning before you go to work and more in the evening when you come back from work.

Fred Dee

So.... NB power is going to spend my money to convince me the a bad idea is a good one!!

WOW!!!!!!

David R. Amos

@Fred Dee YUP

 
David Guitard

If smart meters can save me money by me using energy in off-peak hours then bring it on. There needs to be a good case for installing those meters. If the users believe they can save money by running the dishwasher, washer/dryer or cooking in the evening then it will happen but it has to be proven in plain dollars and cents terms.

Roy Nicholl

@David Guitard
NB Power would need to introduce off-peak pricing models to residential users.

They should also remove the cap on reverse metering which would make installation of small solar or wind generation more attractive to residential customers and small business.

Dianne MacPherson

@David Guitard
There is no such thing as SAVING money by
using energy in off-peak hours.
I have tried everything under the sun to
reduce my power usage to lower my cost.
We've all at some time lost our power for days
.....have you EVER seen that show up on
your bill ??
Once you start heating your home
in winter.....power bills skyrocket !!!!

Marguerite Deschamps

@Dianne MacPherson, so true. The best way would be to live off the grid.

David R. Amos

@Marguerite Deschamps For the record NB Power's lawyers argued these documents and many more on All Hallows Eve in 2017 during the first hearing of the EUB 375 matter Now they will have to argue them before a real court.

https://www.scribd.com/doc/2718120/integrity-yea-right

Tim Raworth

@Marguerite Deschamps Se necesitan años para recuperar los costos de arranque de la energía solar y eólica. A menos que seas joven y tengas mucho dinero para empezar, no vale la pena. También tienes que sustituir las costosas baterías de vez en cuando. Tal vez algún día.

Marguerite Deschamps

@Tim Raworth, Al menos usted es independiente y no necesita pagar por la electricidad que ni siquiera utiliza.

Dan Flanagan

@Dianne MacPherson
I get it, your power bill is high now. Your solution is get online & rant nonsense.

Dan Flanagan

@David Guitard
You seem to be the only voice of reason & sanity on this thread. The venom spewed in these posts is irrational. People are so worked up about their power bill that even the mention of a smart meter with lower off-peak rates to save them money is met with derision. I live in one backward province.

Shawn McShane

@David Guitard You are not going to save money, NB Power will raise rates to offset the $133 million + costs to install them all. Off-peak is late night and the middle of day when kids are in school and parents are at work.

Fred Brewer

@David Guitard
"If smart meters can save me money by me using energy in off-peak hours then bring it on."

Let's be clear on this. NB Power is not proposing to lower your electricity costs during off peak hours. They simply want to charge you more if you use electricity during peak periods so even if you could shift all of your energy needs to off peak hours, you would not save one nickel compared to what you pay today.

NB Power is not being transparent on this issue. Is anyone surprised by this?

David R. Amos

@Fred Brewer "NB Power is not being transparent on this issue. Is anyone surprised by this?"

Not me Thats why Roger Richard and I are intervening at the EUB Hearings

"Opting out smart meter program could cost NB Power customers"

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/eub-hearings-nb-power-smart-meters-1.4529640

 ---------- Original message ----------
From: "Gallant, Brian (LEG)" <Brian.Gallant@gnb.ca>
Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2019 09:11:17 +0000
Subject: RE: RE NB Power Heather Black says "Parties to the approval
proceeding are able to dig more deeply and ask the utility questions"I say YEA RIGHT
To: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>

Thank you for writing to the Leader of the Official Opposition of New
Brunswick. Please be assured that your e-mail will be reviewed.

If this is a media request, please forward your e-mail toashley.beaudin@gnb.camedia-medias@gnb.ca
>. Thank you!

---

Nous vous remercions d’avoir communiqué avec le chef de l’opposition
officielle du Nouveau-Brunswick.  Soyez assuré(e) que votre courriel
sera examiné.

Si ceci est une demande médiatique, prière de la transmettre àashley.beaudin@gnb.camedia-medias@gnb.ca>.  Merci!




---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2019 05:11:03 -0400
Subject: RE NB Power Heather Black says "Parties to the approval proceeding are able to dig more deeply and ask the utility questions" I say YEA RIGHT
To: premier@gnb.ca, blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, "Furey, John"
<jfurey@nbpower.com>, wharrison@nbpower.com,
andrea.anderson-mason@gnb.ca, kris.austin@gnb.ca,
brian.gallant@gnb.ca, David.Coon@gnb.ca, Robert.Jones@cbc.ca,
megan.mitton@gnb.ca, Kevin.A.Arseneau@gnb.ca, rick.desaulniers@gnb.ca,
michelle.conroy@gnb.ca, robert.gauvin@gnb.ca,  Bill.Oliver@gnb.ca,
bruce.northrup@gnb.ca, bruce.fitch@gnb.ca, Stewart.Fairgrieve@gnb.ca,
jake.stewart@gnb.ca,  jeff.carr@gnb.ca, steve.murphy@ctv.ca,
Stephen.Horsman@gnb.ca, carl.urquhart@gnb.ca, oldmaison@yahoo.com,
COCMoncton@gmail.com, markandcaroline@gmail.com,
news@kingscorecord.com, news919@rogers.com, Newsroom@globeandmail.com
Cc: david.raymond.amos@gmail.com, len.hoyt@mcinnescooper.com,
heather.black@gnb.ca, heather.black@mcinnescooper.com,
hadeel.ibrahim@cbc.ca, darrow.macintyre@cbc.ca


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-rate-increase-residential-commercial-1.4972085





https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies




David Raymond Amos‏ @DavidRayAmos

Replying to @DavidRayAmos @Kathryn98967631 and 49 others

RE NB Power Heather Black says "Parties to the approval proceeding are able to dig more deeply and ask the utility questions" I say YEA RIGHT


https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2019/01/re-nb-power-heather-black-says-parties.html

 #nbpoli #cdnpoli 


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-rate-increase-residential-commercial-1.4972085



 

NB Power requests higher-than-expected rate increases

67 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.

Page is closed to commenting.
David R. Amos
For the record NB Power's lawyers argued these documents and many more on All Hallows Eve in 2017 during the first hearing of the EUB 375 matter Now they will have to argue them before a real court.

https://www.scribd.com/doc/2718120/integrity-yea-right

  

David R. Amos 

Methinks folks are entitled to know that the government appointed lawyer Heather Black the so called "public intervener" cannot speak for any of us. If you have concerns about NB Power's actions you must intervene yourself just like and my friend Roger Richard do N'esy Pas?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/eub-hearings-nb-power-smart-meters-1.4529640

The process

"Black said the application for a rate increase kick starts the review process. The board will review documents until May, when they will conduct an oral hearing and cross examine witnesses. Then the board will make a decision on whether to approve the rate increase.

"Parties to the approval proceeding are able to dig more deeply and ask the utility questions, and dig through the evidence on a more detailed basis. So the likelihood of that being approved will become more clear during the hearing process," Black said."

  

Emilien Forest

Trim the fat off that those pigs.

David R. Amos

@Emilien Forest Methinks everybody know I am still an Interverner in the EUB 357 matter N'esy Pas?







 
Lou Bell

Higher bonus's for the politically appointed ! Hooray !!

David R. Amos

@Lou Bell Methinks thou doth jest too much N'esy Pas?

  




 
Paul Bourgoin

Gaëtan Thomas, president and CEO of NB Power; Are there any sweetheart deals for bargain electricity here in NEW BRUNSWICK FOR SPECIAL POWERFUL INDUSTRY CLIENTS ? if so who? and why?

David R. Amos

@Paul Bourgoin Methinks everybody knows its the Irving Clan you are referring to N'esy Pas?

Daniel White

What i want is a costs breakdown of each generation facility. I have a list if you want one. Google this for the list. How much per kwhr to produce? Isn't that how it is sold to us ? Simple request. After that, then we will actually see what should be running and what should be shut. I am sure we have a few duds in the bunch , but we have no proof. We can buy cheaper from Que to make up the difference. Are we that gullible ,not to demand these answers from Mr Thomas? Premier Higgs , being the austerity person you are., is this to much of an economic, simplistic question, to ask?

Johnny Horton

@Daniel White

What do we replace the duds with? Where’s the money for those new generating methods and needed infrastructure?

Daniel White

@Johnny Horton Que is full of power. Take a drive to Labrador, to see for yourself. They are a world leader in power generation whether you like Que or not, this is a fact . If we are to run like a business, why do we operate a facility at a lost? Come on, we need to give our heads a shake 

.

Johnny Horton

@Daniel White

1. Just because they bought B.B. power doesn’t mean they’d just give us free power. They certainly don’t give free power to NFLD. In fact it’s cheaper for NFLD to buy power from the US, than from Quebec. Power queBec sold to the US first.

2. no province should ever be beholden to any other province for critical survival things. EVER.

Anne Bérubé

@Daniel White Of course I think that New Brunswick could buy cheaper hydro from Quebec and everyone would be a winner, however it is somewhat like the oil we buy from all over the world at higher prices instead of getting it from the west and also providing jobs, lots of jobs. Canadians' minds are floating in the skies since October 2015 and now more so, with catnip on those same minds.

Daniel White

You are all over the board about Que and NFLD. I just finished watching the Muskrat Falls inquiry,, and it was interesting and full of facts. Nfld can't buy power from the US. Holy smokes, I am trying to have a factual conversation here, but this is obviously going nowhere. Have a good day.

Marc Martin

@Johnny Horton

* In fact it’s cheaper for NFLD to buy power from the US*

That's the funniest comment ever....

Johnny Horton

@Daniel White

I didn’t say they DID buy power, I said the rate would be cheaper should they buy power from the us at market price.

David R. Amos

@Marc Martin "That's the funniest comment ever.."

Nope you are the champ

 
Trevis L. Kingston

We need a "fossil fuel" burning plant in Fredericton...powered by burning all the BS generated there.

David R. Amos

@Trevis L. Kingston Good idea

David R. Amos

@Trevis L. Kingston You take offense with N'esy Pas but make strange jokes yourself EH?

 
Trevis L. Kingston

I hope NB Power doesn't follow Bells billing strategy.
Bell even charges you for things you DON'T want!
...Don't want a Data Pkg?...Bell even charges you to block it !

David R. Amos
@Trevis L. Kingston Methinks they already do N'esy Pas?

Trevis L. Kingston

@David R. Amos ...David...although I am barely understandable in French
I have never minimalized their language by using the phrase:"N'esY pas".
If my New Brunswick French classes were able to teach me anything...
I think the phrase is written..."N'est pas." Which I believe means...
"Isn't that so."
I invite bilingual New Brunswickers to correct me...if I'm wrong.
Thank you however for entering into this topic...which was about NB Power rate increases... a topic equally important to ALL New Brunswickers...Anglophonie or Francaphonie....n'est pas?

David R. Amos

@Trevis L. Kingston Methinks you don't understand my fun with Chiac However whereas you know so much perhaps you should intervene in the EUB hearings, sue the Crown and run for public office like I do? At least then we can properly argue my command of the French lingo N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos 

@Trevis L. Kingston "I invite bilingual New Brunswickers to correct me...if I'm wrong."

For the record I am NOT bilingual but I took special French and Latin classes in Fredericton High School in the sixties when they were not required education. I believe the proper expression is "N'est-ce pas" These days I merely write French like it sounds when I say it

https://www.thoughtco.com/nest-ce-pas-1371313

The French expression n'est-ce pas (pronounced "nes-pah") is what grammarians call a tag question. It's a word or short phrase tagged on to the end of a statement, turning it into a yes-or-no question.

Most of the time, this formal expression is used in conversation when the speaker, who already expects a certain response, asks a question mainly as a rhetorical device. Literally translated, n'est-ce pas means "is it not," though most speakers understand it to mean "isn't it?" or "aren't you?"

In English, tag questions often consist of the verb from the statement combined with "not." In French, however, the verb is irrelevant; the tag question is just n'est-ce pas. English tag questions "right?" and "no?" are similar in usage, though not register. They are informal, whereas n'est-ce pas is formal. The informal French tag question equivalent is non?

Marc Martin

Should have been sold when they had the chance...Now we are paying for that error and have to live with it.

David R. Amos

@Marc Martin Methinks that just like a busted clock you are correct every now and then However it only seems so when it directly affects your pocketbook N'esy Pas?

Noah Hathaway

@Marc Martin - We could just as easily be gouged by QC Hydro. At least with it remaining in NB we can somewhat control the increases they want to apply.

Marc Martin

@David R. Amos

How is the new Marc Martin your harassing responding ? lol

Marc Martin

@Noah Hathaway

4.5 billion we would had for it and I am not counting the savings of Mactaquac, salaries of NB power and the million per day Point Lepreau has cost us since it was refurbished. We are talking about close to 11 Billion of saving, you really think you would have paid back 11 billion $ in electricity expenses ??

Marc LeBlanc

I thought fuel prices were at a low

David R. Amos

@Marc LeBlanc Me Too

Noah Hathaway

@Marc LeBlanc - according to CBC's graph, fuel prices are lower now than they were at any time in 2018.

https://www.cbc.ca/nb/interactives/gasprices/chart.html

Page is closed to commenting.
David R. Amos
Mr Higgs, Gaëtan Thomas and their cohorts won't tell you but on October 12th, 2018 the EUB 357 matter began again

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/eub-hearing-nb-power-rate-design-smart-meters-1.4305685

Whereas the EUB allowed Dominic Cardy's wife to intervene a full year and a half after the matter had begun they also had to allow my friend Roger Richard to intervene as well. The board did not know what to do about scheduling hearings etc because they had no idea which political party was going to oversee them for the next few years and Premier Gallant had promised to freeze power rates to to the distain of David Coon who was supporting him. This was in the news that day

 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-rate-freeze-gallant-coon-1.4859687

Anyway the outcome of the hearing on October 12th was EUB board decided to look for someone to advise them and adjourned the hearings on the matter until a later date. However they had done that once already despite my protest and then barred me from the 375 matter.  Methinks now that the 357 matter is underway again and the 430 matter is about to begin its gonna be a circus within the EUB before Higgs brings out his budget N'esy Pas?

NB Power could escape Liberal-promised rate freeze thanks to unlikely source

Green Leader David Coon has long history of battling NB Power initiatives

Robert Jones · CBC News · Posted: Oct 12, 2018 6:00 AM AT 

 

The Liberals promised to freeze NB Power rates for four years, but that pledge could be scrapped as the party courts Green support for the upcoming throne speech. (Shane Fowler/CBC)

 

 

The likelihood of NB Power having its rates frozen for the next four years appears to have dimmed to near zero given the uncertainty over who will govern the province — even if New Brunswick Liberals manage to retain power — and the utility can thank its old nemesis, Green Party leader David Coon, for the reprieve.

"It's a non-starter," Coon said Thursday about the signature Liberal campaign promise to bypass the Energy and Utilities Board and impose up to $300 million in rate freezes on the financially challenged utility over the next four years.

• Liberals promise 4-year freeze on NB Power rates for homeowners, small businesses

• Analysis
  Saint John and Edmundston initially left out of power rate freeze

"Freezing power rates is a bad idea. It's interference in a regulatory process; we've got to look at the best economic interests of New Brunswickers. It would be foolish."

Premier Brian Gallant has said he will seek to find "common ground" with Green Party MLAs in an upcoming throne speech to win enough support to keep governing — a condition the freeze  does not meet.

Premier Brian Gallant hinted Thursday the Liberal platform could be modified to incorporate elements from other parties' platforms. (Photo: CBC)

 

 

"We believe we can earn the votes of many in the legislature," Gallant said Thursday. "We want to be able to consult and discuss what should get into the speech from the throne. We are open to other ideas from other political parties "

No Liberal election promise attracted more scorn from Coon during the campaign than the proposed rate freeze, a position he has not budged on since.

Gallant has not said the freeze is dead, but on Thursday sounded like he might be laying the groundwork for its funeral.

• NB Power rate freeze could cost more than Liberal calculation

• NB Power rate freeze could cost utility $135M in stranded carbon costs

• NB Power faces poorest first quarter in 3 years

"We have to be open to the other political parties platforms, which means we have to put water in our wine for our platform as well," said Gallant when asked if Coon's objections to the rate freeze would be fatal to the promise.

"We are willing to look at some of the elements we put forward in our platform and to say maybe another day."

'They should go forward'

NB Power has been conspicuously silent on what it plans to do with power rates going forward since Liberals first promised a freeze to voters in late August.

It has a longstanding plan to increase rates by two per cent per year or more to retire $1 billion in debt and cope with carbon taxes if they come.

In each of the last two years, the utility has submitted its annual rate application to the Energy and Utilities Board during the first week of October, but this year it has already let that date pass with no word of its intention.

Green Party Leader David Coon opposes the Liberal-promised power rate freeze. (CBC)

 

 

Coon said if NB Power is waiting to find out who will be governing the province before applying for new rates, it shouldn't.

"To me, they should be continuing on as required if they are looking for a change in power rates. They should go forward," he said

Coon's history with NB Power

Coon is an unlikely white knight to come to the utility's defence.

He has a long history of opposing NB Power initiatives at regulatory hearings in his former role as executive director of the New Brunswick Conservation Council.

In the early 2000s, he fought the utility's ill-fated, $700-million conversion of the Coleson Cove oil-fired generating station to burn the Venezuelan fossil fuel orimulsion. He later battled executives over what proved to be optimistic plans to quickly and cheaply refurbish the Point Lepreau nuclear generating station.

David Coon fought the conversion of Coleson Cove to burn orimulsion — one of several battles the Green Leader waged against the utility. ((CBC))

 

 

Venezuela eventually refused to deliver orimulsion after the Coleson Cove conversion was complete and the nuclear refurbishment went three years late and $1 billion over budget, all problems Coon predicted.

Still, Coon has long been an advocate of NB Power answering to a professional regulator like the Energy and Utilities Board and not to politicians, and he instantly opposed the idea of a rate freeze imposed by a political party on that principle.

Coon said if NB Power executives are grateful for the backing of an old foe against political meddling in its rates, they are not saying.

"I haven't heard from any of them yet," he said.

About the Author

Robert Jones

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. 

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NB Power launches PR campaign for revived smart meter plan

The utility plans to reintroduce its smart meter plan for approval later this year

Hadeel Ibrahim · CBC News · Posted: Jan 10, 2019 7:19 PM AT 

NB Power president and CEO Gaëtan Thomas says the utility is going to have more, well-outlined savings in its smart meter plan this year. (CBC)



NB Power is going on a public relations campaign to garner support for its smart meter plan.

The utility is planning public consultations before it brings the $122-million smart meter plan back to the Energy and Utilities Board some time this year.

The board rejected the plan last year, saying the benefits of installing and operating the wireless meters do not outweigh the cost to consumers.



NB Power president and CEO Gaëtan Thomas said the utility has revised its plan to include more accurate savings figures and is planning to conduct public consultation with municipalities to get some input — and maybe change people's mind on the meters.

"There's nothing [stopping] us from talking to our customers and get some feedback," he said. "And when more people understand the benefits, there will be — I believe — some positive intervention when we present the case next time."

• EUB denies NB Power request to deploy smart meters across province

• Smart meters already in use in New Brunswick

In July, Thomas said the utility was headed back to the drawing board to make a stronger business case for smart meters with the EUB's notes in mind.

Then-Energy and Resource Development Minister Rick Doucet said he expects NB Power to be business savvy, since it operates independently from government.

Doucet said the province would review the plan to make sure "NB Power is properly delivering on its mandate from New Brunswickers."

"When NB Power wants to invest money, it needs to demonstrate very clearly that its spending will benefit ratepayers," he said.

Meters and rates

Thomas said smart meters can calculate energy usage more accurately, transmit it wirelessly to the utility and allow customers to plan their energy use better during the day.

He said the smart meter plan was presented last year at the same time as the rate increase plan. That weakened NB Power's standing because people saw it as an excuse for NB Power to hike rates.

Public intervener Heather Black says she rejected the smart meter plan last year because the benefits did not outweigh the cost to consumers. (Robert Jones/CBC NEWS)

"People thought that the rate increase was because of the smart meters. The rate increase actually was a very small portion that was related to smart meters," he said. "A lot of people thought that it was an NB Power advantage, that it would cost a lot of money up front."

That's what Thomas said he's hoping to counteract with meetings with municipalities and local service district leaders. This year, the utility is presenting its rate increase application separately from its smart meter plan.

"They're not a huge investment in one year. They're over time, and the impact on rates is positive over time," he said.

Dollar figure attached to savings

When the EUB rejected the plan, it did not deter the utility from applying again.

Utility public intervener Heather Black said the numbers simply didn't add up last year, and she will still be scrutinizing the cost-to-benefit details this time around.

"NB Power would have to demonstrate that the benefit of the project from the perspective of ratepayers outweighs the costs when looking at that analysis from a long-term view over the lifetime of the smart meters," she said.

Gaëtan Thomas says smart meters can calculate energy usage more accurately and can allow customers to plan their energy use better during the day. (CBC)

Thomas said the utility has done more research and was able to attach a dollar figure to the savings that were mentioned in the plan last year but not costed out.

For example, he said the utility was "conservative" when detailing how much power waste the meters can reduce.

• Pull the plug on smart meters, public intervener tells EUB

• NB Power CEO defends smart meters as way to avoid more power plants

In that plan, he said the meters would reduce power waste by 0.4 per cent, but they have "new information" that shows power savings would be one or two per cent.

"That in itself will turn the business case from minus $1 million ... to something like over 10 million [in savings]," he said.

He said NB Power couldn't include this in the old plan because there was not enough data available.
He said the utility will bring forward the smart meter request "when we're ready."

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NB Power requests higher-than-expected rate increases

Increase linked to higher fuel prices, interest rates and foreign exchange costs

Hadeel Ibrahim · CBC News · Posted: Jan 09, 2019 6:56 PM AT

NB Power is requesting a 2.9 per cent rate increase for residential customers. (Shane Fowler/CBC)

NB Power is requesting a higher-than-expected rate increase this year, adding an average of $5 a month to New Brunswick household bills.

Citing increased fuel prices, the utility requested an average 2.5 per cent increase in power rates for all its classes, the highest being a 2.9 per cent increase for residential customers.

Heather Black, public intervenor for the energy sector, said NB Power is expected to go through a rate approval process every year, but this year's proposed rate increase was "surprising."

NB Power's 10-year plan predicted the average rate increase to be two per cent, Black said.

Gaëtan Thomas, president and CEO of NB Power, says the increase is to keep up with increasing fuel costs, interest rates and foreign currency conversion rates. (CBC)

"Seeing a little bit of an uptick to an average rate increase of 2.5 per cent and a little bit higher for the residential class is a little bit unexpected," she said.

Black said there's no way to know if the Energy and Utilities Board will set lower rate increases without going through the hearing and review process.

Increase lowered by board

The last approved rate increase, which was applied in August, was 0.96 per cent for residential, industrial and municipal rates. Commercial and institutional customer rates rose 0.4 per cent.

NB Power had originally requested an average two per cent increase last year, but the utility was able to bring it down to 1.5 per cent because it received a substantial settlement from insurance companies to settle claims resulting from cost overruns suffered by NB Power during a refurbishment of the Point Lepreau nuclear plant.

• NB Power faces poorest first quarter in 3 years

After weeks of hearings, the board eventually set an even lower increase than NB Power had hoped.

A necessary increase

Gaëtan Thomas, president and CEO of NB Power, said the utility is facing "some significant challenges this year" considering the increasing fuel prices, interest rates and higher foreign exchange costs, as well as bad weather events.

"When you put all these factors together ... in spite of some cost reductions and some plans to operate more efficiently — we still need an average of 2.5 or cent rate increase."

He said fuel costs increased by 10 per cent in the last year, something that wasn't accounted for in the 10-year plan.

Public intervener Heather Black says the requested rate increase percentage is surprising. (Robert Jones/CBC NEWS)

"This is hard to predict because all fuel prices are based on market price," he said.

Thomas said NB Power has prepared its case and will be ready to answer Energy and Utilities Board questions about how necessary these rate increases are.

In the last eight years, the utility had three zero-rate increase and two years of proposed two per cent increases.

"This rate increase will still keep us still the lowest in the Maritimes," Thomas said.

The likelihood of that being approved will become more clear during the hearing process.- Heather Black, public intervener

While the approval process is underway, NB Power can apply for an interim increase, allowing them to charge more even before the increase is approved.

Thomas said the utility had not yet decided if it wants to do that.

"We're waiting on the schedule from the regulator," he said.

The process

Black said the application for a rate increase kick starts the review process. The board will review documents until May, when they will conduct an oral hearing and cross examine witnesses. Then the board will make a decision on whether to approve the rate increase.

"Parties to the approval proceeding are able to dig more deeply and ask the utility questions, and dig through the evidence on a more detailed basis. So the likelihood of that being approved will become more clear during the hearing process," Black said.

• Power rates increase Aug. 1, but they won't go as high as NB Power hoped

What the board will be looking for is proof that NB Power has to charge that much more, and they've spent their money responsibility — proving the increase is fair.

"The rates that are charged should recover the costs to provide that service — provided that the costs were reasonably incurred," Black said.

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