Mahone Bay
The following provides a high-level summary of some of the comments received during Electricity System Review public consultation meetings. They do not represent a consensus or a majority of opinions, but simply comments and dialogue captured by department staff.
Mahone Bay - September 18, 2014
Energy Sources
- Many people thought we should add more renewables, however they suggested the pace and price of additions is important.
- Some people expressed the view that the rising cost of electricity is killing our economy – they suggested that we need to look at costs first, and that we can’t put value on renewable jobs over small business (electricity costs too high).
- In a similar vein, some thought we should be doing whatever costs the least – they suggested that renewable targets are too high.
- Some thought production planning should account for export opportunities.
- A number of people suggested all factors need to be balanced, including long term feasibility of assets and environmental responsibility.
- Some people thought we needed more information on the health impacts. They suggested that the full costs associated with burning coal (including health care costs) are not reflected in the fuel costs.
- A view was expressed that we need to stay up to date planning for the future. It was suggested that if we don’t continue with renewables we won’t stay current.
- A suggestion was also made that we need to have more energy storage.
- It was asked why we would retire assets if we don’t have to?
Innovation
- Many people suggested they were in favour of innovation at the right cost, but that we should be mindful of rate impacts.
- A number of people thought local solutions are preferred over global.
- Some suggested we encourage investment through policy.
- Some people observed that we should be looking at electric vehicle best practices.
- Some thought we shouldn’t put all our eggs in one basket, and should avoid making big changes too soon and too fast.
- A number of people thought options should be considered at the community level.
Governance
- A number of people expressed the view that competition means lower costs, and it drives efficient/sustainable business. They also thought it would require regulated distribution. They also thought competition would impact service standards.
- Some suggested safety is a given so it does not need to be a performance standard.
- Many suggested that frequency of outages is important (speaks to reliability), and so is communication (reliability, annual reports).
- Some participants questioned home owner accountability for vegetation management.
- A number suggested we should consider buried utility lines.
- Some thought the framework for evaluation of performance based regulation should be government-driven.
- A number of people suggested that since we're a small province, we should learn from best practices elsewhere.
- It was suggested that the Board (UARB) process is too complicated, and needs more transparency and more disclosure.
- The question of separating transmission from generation was raised.