Provincial regulators approved a $330-million capital expenditureplan submitted by Nova Scotia Power Inc. in a decision releasedFriday. The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board gave the utility creditfor improving its participation in the annual review of its capitalexpenditure plan in a 60-page decision. However, the board indicated more detail will be expected in 2013,especially about how utility spending affects consumer"spower bills. "NSPI will in future be required to provide more detail aboutwhat it does to achieve affordability," Bill Mahody,provincially appointed consumer advocate, said in an interview. "The utility may want to spend in a particular way, butconsumers have a right to see how this affects their powerbill," said Mahody after the decision was released. There was a suggestion in the decision that some anticipatedcapital expenditures for 2012, not included in the capitalexpenditure plan, may require separate public hearings. "None of the interveners took exception to any particularcapital item," noted the board in its decision. "The concerns, as expressed in their respective closingsubmissions, generally relate to the ACE (annual capitalexpenditure) Plan as a whole," reads one portion of thedecision. A capital expenditure plan for 2012 from the utility, laid out overseveral years, totals about $330 million. This includes about $143 million in capital expenditures for thisyear, and an additional $80 million the utility said it expects tosubmit for board approval later this year. The remaining capital spending includes $10.4 million for the PointAconi Generating Station and some carryover items ($85 million) anda list of items under $250,000 each ($10.9 million). Although the board approved the spending program, the decisioncalls for more clarity on particular projects, and greaterjustification on how these projects keep rate hikes to a minimumfor users. "The Board considers that an explanation of how NSPI assessesaffordability for ratepayers would be useful," states oneportion of the decision. "To increase transparency, paying more than lip service tothis issue is warranted. The Board expects NSPI to provide a betterexplanation in future ACE Plan filings," states the decision. ( bpower@herald.ca ). I am an expert from cnc-machiningcenters.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Heavy Duty Machining Center Manufacturer , China VMC Machining Center, CNC Machining Centers,and more.
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