Middleton
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.
Middleton - September 27, 2014
Energy Sources
- Many participants suggested that renewable electricity prices are stable, while fossil fuels are volatile.
- Some people said we should pay more for increased use of electricity – it makes us use electricity more efficiently.
- Some people thought we should have a strategy with PEI to increase our market size.
- Some suggested we should use smart grid for demand management and as a supply management measure.
- Some suggested there have not been enough conversations around electricity security. They suggested that smaller distribution systems could allow people to buy and sell electricity to each other. They said that someone needs to look at what kind of distribution system we would need.
- Some people thought relying on other areas for energy could leave us vulnerable if there is upheaval.
- One person commented that they have never lived in a place where services in general are so unreliable (cell service, internet). They thought democratic systems should ensure decent quality of life for everyone.
- Some suggested we needed more support for communities to have a voice, and that we don’t currently have a governance structure that gives people a voice.
- It was suggested that tidal is an opportunity that is locally based, but we have to be mindful of the cost. We will pay for the technology in the long run.
- Some people were concerned the cost of renewables is high, and costs will be difficult to cover with an aging population.
- Others indicated they were hopeful that energy efficiency could help reduce electricity reqirements.
- Some people felt a need for diversity of fuel sources ("we can’t put all of our eggs in one basket"), while others felt that we should produce here first. The lowest cost options should be balanced with economic development.
- A number of people thought that we can’t be the most expensive system and also promote business development.
Innovation
- Some participants suggested that we should focus on energy storage and management systems.
- Some thought smart grid may be a way to innovate at a lower cost.
- It was suggested that storage options should be designed for us and our needs – not for business or other jurisdictions. Some of our needs may be unique.
- Some people thought we need to consider the human side of innovation – they said NSPI has lost a lot of its corporate memory – no knowledge of individual areas and system quirks. They should have someone on the ground familiar with the area.
- It was suggested by some that we need to target the input of youth.
- Some people thought we need more education around smart meters, as major lifestyle choices may be needed to take advantage of time of day rates.
- It was suggested by some that the regulatory structure needs to be looked at. They observed that you can innovate more out west with their codes and standards as it is less restrictive. Example: venting heat from stove pipes - you can do this other places but not here.
- Many thought we should not be guinea pigs; we should learn from other jurisdictions, be prudent, and take into account concerns regarding choice and health impacts.
Governance
- Some people thought we need better co-ordination of services and improvement – during Arthur, outages were not showing. They suggested that infrastructure is out of date and we need to make investments to improve service delivery.
- Some thought that the vegetation management plan should be made public. A tree might take a power line down but it doesn’t keep it out for days. Others felt that vegetation management should be the responsibility of the individual, and that NSPI can't be accountable for those who will not let them cut down trees.
- Some people thought we need to design the system to prepare for longer outages, recognizing that weather patterns are changing.
- It was suggested that storm response needs to reflect essential services (it was stated that hospital was one of the last to come back online).
- Some people thought the UARB does not have the authority or resources to enforce performance-based regulation (PBR).
- Some cautioned that PBR must be carefully done as it could create incentives to focus on high service areas and ignore others.
- Some people suggested that we look at separating transmission from generation.
- Some people wanted to consider burying power lines.
- Many people stated that communications needs to improve (especially accuracy).