https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
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David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks CBC and its fellow Crown Corporation NB Power were not wiae to ignore the concerns of Roger Richard and two other interveners that Mr Jones had never named deliberately N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/06/seasonal-power-rates-lack-support-and.html
#nbpoli#cdnpoli
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-eub-season-power-rates-1.5627941
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NB Power is asking the EUB not to implement winter and summer pricing for electricity, arguing residential customers have not been adequately consulted. (Catherine Harrop/CBC)
Charging NB Power residential customers substantially more for electricity in the winter to better reflect the costs of supplying power in New Brunswick, even if combined with discounts in the summer, is likely to trigger resistance in the public and should be dropped as an idea at least for now, the utility is arguing.
"Current rates inherently reflect a long-standing social compact," NB Power told the Energy and Utilities Board in a submission late last month arguing against a switch to "seasonal" rates in the near future.
"NB Power is not aware of a general preference by customers or policy-makers for such a change from the historical allocation."
NB Power has been in the middle of an on-again off-again hearing over the last three years into how it prices electricity. It was ordered by the EUB with the goal to make what NB Power charges fairer between customers and tied more closely to the costs of supplying power.
![]()
NB Power's new president, Keith Cronkhite, left, told the EUB last winter that electric heat demand can be expensive to supply on some days but is not as large of a problem for the utility as critics claim. (Robert Jones/CBC)
Because it is more expensive for NB Power to generate electricity in the winter than in the summer, one of the early recommendations was the utility adopt pricing to reflect that difference with distinct winter and non-winter rates.
"About 63 per cent of NB Power's residential customers have winter space heating loads. Such heating customers are more expensive to serve than non-heating customers because they consume relatively more power during the winter on-peak hours when electricity is most expensive in New Brunswick," wrote the consultants.
But the Christensen report noted winter cold snaps require turning on more inefficient generators to bolster the supply, like the Coleson Cove oil and petroleum coke generating plant which eats up almost 14 cents in fuel for every kilowatt hour it produces.
![]()
NB Power's Coleson Cove oil and petroleum coke generating station is the utility's highest cost supplier and normally runs just 20 days a year during extreme cold snaps when electric heat demand peaks. (Matthew Bingley/CBC)
Current pricing spreads those costs among every residential customer even though it is caused by those using electric heat.
"The simplest way to substantially reduce cross-subsidies between heating and non-heating customers would be to replace the current residential rate with a seasonal rate that would have winter energy prices about 66 per cent higher than summer prices," said the Christensen report.
That idea seemed to gain momentum last year when a second consultant hired by the EUB held a series of workshops about electricity pricing that found a broad consensus among "stakeholders" in favour of seasonal pricing.
"I saw consensus developing around seasonal rates," said Ahmad Faruqui, a San Francisco-based consultant, during an EUB hearing last month about those stakeholder workshops.
"The stakeholder group's makeup was not representative of the general population," said NB Power in its submission.
"Even though much of the discussion was about residential rates, residential customers did not have a formal representative in attendance at the sessions. Residential customers, as a class, lack direct representation and do not have the applied resources and expertise that some other customers have."
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Public intervener Heather Black was one of 11 participants in electricity rate design workshops in 2019. The sessions developed a consensus that "seasonal rates" for residential customers would be worth pursuing. It is an idea NB Power is opposing and Black says needs more study. (CBC)
Participants in the 2019 stakeholder sessions included representatives of NB Power, the EUB, J.D. Irving Ltd., Liberty Utilities, public intervenor Heather Black, municipal governments, municipal electric utilities, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and individual concerned citizens.
NB Power said major changes to the way the public is charged for electricity needs substantially more public input and recommended the termination of the current three-year-old process in favour of starting over later this year or next.
"Future proceedings would start with a fresh record and a contemporary group of interested parties," it argued.
85Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
Roger Richard
Methinks I am not the only independent intervener left behind, N’esy pas.
Roger Richard
Someone has to pay for those fancy smart meters: Luxury items that we cannot afford. Analogue meters are safe and dependable for decades more than smart meters! Smart meters are like smart phones. How long are you expecting your smart phone to last?
David Peters
No wonder they attempt to bury such an important story by releasing it on a sunny, warm Friday, in late June...when the secret meeting was held late last month. There is a lot of things to question here that greatly affect virtually every single person in NB.
Breaking up centralized control of the energy and transportation sectors would benefit a vast majority of New Brunswickers virtually over-night, imo.
To say this is an important file, is a ridiculous understatement.
Dallas Mcquarrie
Charging NB Power residential customers substantially more for electricity in the winter to better reflect the costs of supplying power in New Brunswick ... is putting the financial boots to pensioners and others on fixed income as well the working poor and those already living in poverty. New Brunswick residents need electricity every month of the year, and it is not an optional consumer item. Charging more in the winter is just a polite way to say "price gouging" because everyone must use more power in the winter, or live in darkness and, for some, give up heat. How about higher rates for heavy industrial users - their consumption does not light or heat homes,or keep food safe in fridges and freezers! No, that wouldn't do! This is New Brunswick where people are hardly the top priority of government and its boards, agencies and corporations.
Mary Smith
Reply to @Dallas Mcquarrie: What NB power should do is follow in NS's and other provinces footsteps and have rent to own mini-splits for NB'ers. Lower bills for everyone, less power consumption too -- it's a win-win. Along with programs so people can insulate their homes better (there is a program already for lower income NB'ers and seniors, but there's a lot of hoops to go through and I'm unsure if that program still exists, and the income cap is really, really low so most do not qualify).
Roger Richard
“ Participants in the 2019 stakeholder sessions included representatives of NB Power, the EUB, J.D. Irving Ltd., Liberty Utilities, public intervenor Heather Black, municipal governments, municipal electric utilities, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and individual concerned citizens.” I am one of the interveners that are not mention in the article. It is frustrating that we cannot talk about the other side of the story.
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Roger Richard: If you provided a written statement to the EUB, it will be on their website. But in the meantime, you have a forum here. What was the essence of your presentation to the EUB? Nobody is muzzling you.
Roger Richard
Roger Richard
John Valcourt
NB Power take more than their fair share in rates from residents in New Brunswick. They are just so bad at managing the money that they take from us that no amount will ever be enough. It is like the premier and his gas taxes. So we need to eliminate smart meters and eliminate raising the power rates and eliminate all the upper brass at NB Power and get new people leading OUR corporation and see if they can better manage the money they are taking from us and make wiser investments instead of huge bonuses and snake oil projects.
Roger Richard
Brian Robertson
If NB Power wishes to lower our cost for electricity in the summertime, they should just do it.
I don't expect there would be any complaints at all.
But, they don't want to LOWER anything.
What they want is to impose a winter time SURCHARGE as a way to backdoor yet another power increase.
Oh those sneaky bureaucrats!
Dan Flanagan
David News
If there is an annual need to generate electricity at such a high rate, why then is not NB power looking to bring newer more cost effective generation on line and mothballing these older more expensive and not environmentally friendly stations.
Dan Flanagan
Lou Bell
Maybe just suggest N.B. Power move into the 21st century in the supplyng of power . The continued use of coal and the antiquated Mactaquac Dam ( along with the damage it causes annually through flooding , which by the way is caused by many UNDISCLOSED reasons which NB Power fails to publicly disclose ) and Patronage management and crew that haven't a clue what they're doing , keep out power sources in the 19th and 20th centuries at best !
Dan Flanagan
David Peters
Why would these eub meeting timings and locations need to be secret? Why isn't there representation for NB Power residential customers?
Imo, much of NB's economic problems revolve around centralized control of the economy.
David Peters
Reply to @Fred Brewer:
Nowhere on their site, that I can find, gives timings and locations of meetings. Post a link to a time/location of their last meeting, and or their next meeting, if you can find one.
Alex L
Are they kidding? The costof hydro in winter is already through the roof. what does a consultant from San Francisco have to do with local realities? Lack of representation by the local consumers is an understatement. NB is doing EVERYTHING to push people out of the province. Then they whine that people don't want to stay here. Who will pay taxes to support the aging population when working professionals finally throw in the towel and get the hell out? This province is moribund as it is and they are doing MORE, not less to keep it this way and even expedite the process.
Roger Richard
Reply to @Roger Richard: We are at risk of losing NB Power if we do not take care of business...
Fred Brewer
And why is the focus only on residential customers? If it costs more to produce electricity in the winter, then that cost should be borne equally by ALL consumers and this would include mills and refineries.
Dave Shimla
how about lets stop the ridiculous amount of bonuses paid out to the executives. Hey CBC lets do a story on that, dig into the bonuses, people will be shocked.
Dan Flanagan
Roger Richard
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: We have too many Americans on the Board of Directors of NB Power.
Johnny Jakobs
Johnny Jakobs
This is another phase of the intended use of smart meters.
Profits and bonuses aren't high enough for the top brass?
Roger Richard
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: Yep, since 2012 when they started talking with Siemens.
https://www.saintjohn.ca/en/home/cityhall/protectiveservices/police/about/policecommission/default.aspx
https://coxandpalmerlaw.com/people/edward-w-keyes/
https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
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David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks it should be a small wonder to many folks in BC that CBC did not offer a comment section to oppose this monumental Bullshitter who landed a job in the Maritimes N'esy Pas?
http://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2016/09/re-rcmp-lonnie-landrud-his-knowledge-of.html
#nbpoli#cdnpoli
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-john-police-chief-racism-diversity-1.5618773
CBC News· Posted: Jun 19, 2020 3:01 PM AT
https://www.cenb.com/fr/337-gaetan-thomas-joint-l-equipe-du-cenb1
Notre nouveau PDG possède un grand désir de faire une différence pour sa province et cette nouvelle étape de sa carrière lui permettra de contribuer à sa communauté d’une nouvelle façon. Après plus de 38 ans chez Énergie Nouveau-Brunswick dont dix années comme PDG, Gaëtan Thomas est un gestionnaire chevronné qui connaît bien la province. Il est reconnu comme un chef de file positif qui mobilise son équipe.
![img marie bio2x]()
Marie Chamberland est présidente du Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick (CÉNB). Elle a occupé le poste de vice-présidente du mois de juin 2015 à décembre 2016. Entrepreneure autonome depuis mai 2016, elle est également chargée de cours au Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick, campus de Dieppe. Elle a auparavant agi à titre de propriétaire de deux franchises Second Cup à Moncton et à Dieppe de 2011 à 2016 où elle a acquis de solides compétences en gestion des ressources humaines, en service à la clientèle, en leadership et en management.
Précédemment, Marie a accumulé une vaste expérience en administration et en gestion financière, en occupant diverses fonctions au sein d’entreprises néo-brunswickoises et d’UNI Coopération financière.
Marie étudie pour l’obtention d’une maîtrise en administration des affaires (MBA) de l’Université de Moncton et détient un diplôme en administration des affaires et management du Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB). Elle est membre du Conseil académique de l’éducation permanente de l’Université de Moncton. Elle est originaire de Kedgwick / St-Quentin.
https://huddle.today/gaetan-thomas-new-ceo-of-n-b-francophone-business-network/
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“I chose to get involved with the CÉNB because I believe in our province’s possibilities and in our francophone business community. I was always an ally of the CÉNB and I am happy to now closely collaborate on its many projects,” said Thomas in a release.
“I am looking forward to meeting the network’s members when circumstances allow and to help francophone businesses start a new turn in this decisive time. The pandemic brought a lot of new challenges for our province and we need to work together to contribute to the rise of our communities.”
Thomas had been the CEO of NB Power for a decade before deciding to step down by May 2020. The utility named Keith Cronkhite as his successor in March.
Thomas’ career at NB Power started in 1982 after he graduated with an engineering degree from the University of New Brunswick. Before becoming CEO, he held various positions in operations, engineering, project design and commissioning, as well as senior and executive management.
As CEO, he restructured NB Power to become an integrated utility that resulted in a leaner, more efficient organization. Under his leadership, NB Power also launched a partnership with Siemens to develop a made-in-New Brunswick smart grid and refurbished Point Lepreau’s Nuclear Generating Station.
Now at the helm of CÉNB, he’ll lead the provincial network of approximately 800 Francophone businesses and entrepreneurs. The organization serves as their voices, including to promote their role and value in economic development in the province and to celebrate their contributions.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors and CÉNB’s members, I am very happy to rely on Gaëtan Thomas’s vast experience that will be particularly important for our network in this decisive period at the economic level for our province. Our new CEO has a strong desire to make a difference in his province and he will mobilize our members and our partners around concrete initiatives that will propel the economy of our province,” said Chamberland in the release.
“We are very proud of this nomination and we are happy to rely on him for strong leadership to take the helm with conviction and determination.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-seasonal-rates-meters-1.4142118
· CBC News· Posted: Jun 01, 2017 7:13 PM AT
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NB Power has been ordered to examine whether it should charge lower prices in the summer and higher in the winter, to better reflect true costs. (CBC)
A consultant hired by NB Power is warning of significant consumer "backlash" if the utility is made to establish seasonal rates for electricity.
The consultant's report even suggests customers might have to read their own power meters at midnight twice a year — on April Fool's and Halloween — to make the system work.
"Virtually all bills will have errors ... billing disputes can be expected to increase, possibly dramatically, and there will be no means of resolving disputes in a satisfactory way," reads a report by Elenchus Research Associates that was commissioned by NB Power and filed with the Energy and Utilities Board on Thursday.
NB Power is in the middle of a year-long "rate design" review ordered by the EUB that is focused in part on whether the utility should charge lower prices for electricity in the summer and higher prices in the winter to better reflect the actual cost of serving customers.
Elenchus said seasonal rates require an accurate reading of every customer's power meter at midnight on March 31 and again on Oct. 31, the dates when power rates would switch between winter and summer prices.
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A consultant's report says NB Power doesn't have the manpower to properly read meters if it brings in seasonal rates. (CBC)
Elenchus estimated seasonal rates would add nearly $6 million to the cost of residential bills overall, with the largest increases flowing to those with baseboard heat.
Electric heat customers consume the majority of their power during the five months that would have the highest prices and Elenchus said that is another reason to wait for better power meters before proceeding.
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NB Power has an ambitious plan to bring in a new meter system, and the consultant's report recommends waiting for that to happen before switching to seasonal rates. (Google Street View)
Consumers will also have in-home pricing and consumption displays to help them manage their bills.
Elenchus said waiting for those meters will give electric heat customers a chance to avoid higher seasonal costs by letting them shift power consumption to lower-priced parts of the day.
"The introduction of seasonal rates would be more acceptable once AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) has been deployed," concludes the report.
A final hearing on NB Power's rate design, where seasonal rates and other changes will be considered, is scheduled for next April.
https://onbcanada.ca/press-releases/nb-power-siemens-and-unb-launch-network-to-spur-innovation/
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David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks CBC and its fellow Crown Corporation NB Power were not wiae to ignore the concerns of Roger Richard and two other interveners that Mr Jones had never named deliberately N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/06/seasonal-power-rates-lack-support-and.html
#nbpoli#cdnpoli
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-eub-season-power-rates-1.5627941
Seasonal power rates lack support and upset 'social compact,' NB Power tells EUB
Low summer, high winter electricity prices viewed as fairer, but NB Power detects no public support
· CBC News· Posted: Jun 26, 2020 7:00 AM AT
NB Power is asking the EUB not to implement winter and summer pricing for electricity, arguing residential customers have not been adequately consulted. (Catherine Harrop/CBC)
Charging NB Power residential customers substantially more for electricity in the winter to better reflect the costs of supplying power in New Brunswick, even if combined with discounts in the summer, is likely to trigger resistance in the public and should be dropped as an idea at least for now, the utility is arguing.
"Current rates inherently reflect a long-standing social compact," NB Power told the Energy and Utilities Board in a submission late last month arguing against a switch to "seasonal" rates in the near future.
"NB Power is not aware of a general preference by customers or policy-makers for such a change from the historical allocation."
NB Power has been in the middle of an on-again off-again hearing over the last three years into how it prices electricity. It was ordered by the EUB with the goal to make what NB Power charges fairer between customers and tied more closely to the costs of supplying power.
NB Power's new president, Keith Cronkhite, left, told the EUB last winter that electric heat demand can be expensive to supply on some days but is not as large of a problem for the utility as critics claim. (Robert Jones/CBC)
Because it is more expensive for NB Power to generate electricity in the winter than in the summer, one of the early recommendations was the utility adopt pricing to reflect that difference with distinct winter and non-winter rates.
Call for fairer pricing
Christensen Associates Energy Consulting, hired by NB Power back in 2017 to offer advice on changes, suggested winter electricity prices for residential customers up to 66 per cent higher than summer prices would more fairly distribute costs between residential customers who heat with electricity and those who don't."About 63 per cent of NB Power's residential customers have winter space heating loads. Such heating customers are more expensive to serve than non-heating customers because they consume relatively more power during the winter on-peak hours when electricity is most expensive in New Brunswick," wrote the consultants.
Summertime energy demand is low in New Brunswick and supplied mostly by NB Power's lowest marginal cost generators, like the Point Lepreau nuclear generating station which consumes 7/10ths of a cent of nuclear fuel for every kilowatt hour of electricity it produces.
But the Christensen report noted winter cold snaps require turning on more inefficient generators to bolster the supply, like the Coleson Cove oil and petroleum coke generating plant which eats up almost 14 cents in fuel for every kilowatt hour it produces.
NB Power's Coleson Cove oil and petroleum coke generating station is the utility's highest cost supplier and normally runs just 20 days a year during extreme cold snaps when electric heat demand peaks. (Matthew Bingley/CBC)
Current pricing spreads those costs among every residential customer even though it is caused by those using electric heat.
"The simplest way to substantially reduce cross-subsidies between heating and non-heating customers would be to replace the current residential rate with a seasonal rate that would have winter energy prices about 66 per cent higher than summer prices," said the Christensen report.
That idea seemed to gain momentum last year when a second consultant hired by the EUB held a series of workshops about electricity pricing that found a broad consensus among "stakeholders" in favour of seasonal pricing.
"I saw consensus developing around seasonal rates," said Ahmad Faruqui, a San Francisco-based consultant, during an EUB hearing last month about those stakeholder workshops.
Public input needed, says utility
But in a written submission after that hearing, NB Power expressed doubts the public would embrace seasonal rates and said stakeholders who liked the idea do not represent residential customers."The stakeholder group's makeup was not representative of the general population," said NB Power in its submission.
"Even though much of the discussion was about residential rates, residential customers did not have a formal representative in attendance at the sessions. Residential customers, as a class, lack direct representation and do not have the applied resources and expertise that some other customers have."
Public intervener Heather Black was one of 11 participants in electricity rate design workshops in 2019. The sessions developed a consensus that "seasonal rates" for residential customers would be worth pursuing. It is an idea NB Power is opposing and Black says needs more study. (CBC)
Participants in the 2019 stakeholder sessions included representatives of NB Power, the EUB, J.D. Irving Ltd., Liberty Utilities, public intervenor Heather Black, municipal governments, municipal electric utilities, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and individual concerned citizens.
NB Power said major changes to the way the public is charged for electricity needs substantially more public input and recommended the termination of the current three-year-old process in favour of starting over later this year or next.
"Future proceedings would start with a fresh record and a contemporary group of interested parties," it argued.
85Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
Roger Richard
Methinks I am not the only independent intervener left behind, N’esy pas.
Roger Richard
Someone has to pay for those fancy smart meters: Luxury items that we cannot afford. Analogue meters are safe and dependable for decades more than smart meters! Smart meters are like smart phones. How long are you expecting your smart phone to last?
David Peters
No wonder they attempt to bury such an important story by releasing it on a sunny, warm Friday, in late June...when the secret meeting was held late last month. There is a lot of things to question here that greatly affect virtually every single person in NB.
Breaking up centralized control of the energy and transportation sectors would benefit a vast majority of New Brunswickers virtually over-night, imo.
To say this is an important file, is a ridiculous understatement.
Dallas Mcquarrie
Charging NB Power residential customers substantially more for electricity in the winter to better reflect the costs of supplying power in New Brunswick ... is putting the financial boots to pensioners and others on fixed income as well the working poor and those already living in poverty. New Brunswick residents need electricity every month of the year, and it is not an optional consumer item. Charging more in the winter is just a polite way to say "price gouging" because everyone must use more power in the winter, or live in darkness and, for some, give up heat. How about higher rates for heavy industrial users - their consumption does not light or heat homes,or keep food safe in fridges and freezers! No, that wouldn't do! This is New Brunswick where people are hardly the top priority of government and its boards, agencies and corporations.
Mary Smith
Reply to @Dallas Mcquarrie: What NB power should do is follow in NS's and other provinces footsteps and have rent to own mini-splits for NB'ers. Lower bills for everyone, less power consumption too -- it's a win-win. Along with programs so people can insulate their homes better (there is a program already for lower income NB'ers and seniors, but there's a lot of hoops to go through and I'm unsure if that program still exists, and the income cap is really, really low so most do not qualify).
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Mary Smith: NB Power does not want that. They pretend that they do, but in reality they need us to consume as much electricity as possible in an attempt to stay profitable.
Roger Richard
“ Participants in the 2019 stakeholder sessions included representatives of NB Power, the EUB, J.D. Irving Ltd., Liberty Utilities, public intervenor Heather Black, municipal governments, municipal electric utilities, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and individual concerned citizens.” I am one of the interveners that are not mention in the article. It is frustrating that we cannot talk about the other side of the story.
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Roger Richard: If you provided a written statement to the EUB, it will be on their website. But in the meantime, you have a forum here. What was the essence of your presentation to the EUB? Nobody is muzzling you.
Roger Richard
Reply to @Fred Brewer: They have already signed the contracts and it will cost lots if we refuse the smart meters. Incidentally, it will cost us more if we accept smart meters both financially and environmentally. My main concern is their effects on our health.
Reply to @Fred Brewer: The idea of the process is to implement the smart meters in NB. They say it is to bring NB Power in the twenty-first century. Smart meters will cost us much more in so many ways.
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Roger Richard: I totally agree, yet I am afraid NB Power will get what it wants.
Roger Richard
Reply to @Fred Brewer: They have already signed the contracts and it will cost lots if we refuse the smart meters. Incidentally, it will cost us more if we accept smart meters both financially and environmentally. My main concern is their effects on our health.
John Valcourt
NB Power take more than their fair share in rates from residents in New Brunswick. They are just so bad at managing the money that they take from us that no amount will ever be enough. It is like the premier and his gas taxes. So we need to eliminate smart meters and eliminate raising the power rates and eliminate all the upper brass at NB Power and get new people leading OUR corporation and see if they can better manage the money they are taking from us and make wiser investments instead of huge bonuses and snake oil projects.
Roger Richard
Reply to @John Valcourt: Very true. I am afraid that if we continue our government will decide to sell NB Power to the Americans like they did in Nova Scotia. Actually we already have three Americans on our Board of Directors of NB Power.
Brian Robertson
If NB Power wishes to lower our cost for electricity in the summertime, they should just do it.
I don't expect there would be any complaints at all.
But, they don't want to LOWER anything.
What they want is to impose a winter time SURCHARGE as a way to backdoor yet another power increase.
Oh those sneaky bureaucrats!
Dan Flanagan
Reply to @Brian Robertson:
NBP is NOT for the scheme. Read the article.
NBP is NOT for the scheme. Read the article.
Brian Robertson
Reply to @Dan Flanagan:
It was their consultants, paid for by NB Power (us) that recommended it.
NB Power just made the comment that there wasn't public support for it.
It would be like buying a new TV in January and the store charging a surtax because their heating bill was higher.
They are actually worse than the banks for trying to rip us off.
It was their consultants, paid for by NB Power (us) that recommended it.
NB Power just made the comment that there wasn't public support for it.
It would be like buying a new TV in January and the store charging a surtax because their heating bill was higher.
They are actually worse than the banks for trying to rip us off.
Roger Richard
Reply to @Brian Robertson: Electricity will not be cheaper nether in the summer nor outside the peak time. Someone has to pay for those fancy smart meters. Luxury items that we cannot afford. Analogue meters are safe and dependable for decades more than smart meters! Smart meters are like smart phones. How long your smart phone lasts?
David News
If there is an annual need to generate electricity at such a high rate, why then is not NB power looking to bring newer more cost effective generation on line and mothballing these older more expensive and not environmentally friendly stations.
Dan Flanagan
Reply to @David News:
Who will lend money to a corporation that is at least $5 billion in debt & has several billion more in liabilities? Their net revenue in 2019 was $20 million. It would take 350 years to pay their debt, at that rate. This crown corporation is so far in debt, it simple wouldn't exist as a non-government company.
Who will lend money to a corporation that is at least $5 billion in debt & has several billion more in liabilities? Their net revenue in 2019 was $20 million. It would take 350 years to pay their debt, at that rate. This crown corporation is so far in debt, it simple wouldn't exist as a non-government company.
David Peters
Reply to @Dan Flanagan:
We can only imagine what sort of solutions a decentralized energy sector would have come up with. There might have been better, faster and cheaper options, that didn't put the province in a massive debt.
We can only imagine what sort of solutions a decentralized energy sector would have come up with. There might have been better, faster and cheaper options, that didn't put the province in a massive debt.
David News
Reply to @Dan Flanagan: So Dan we continue to use old less effective equipment, charge the ratepayers more than invest in the future. Makes perfect sense if you don't care about the next generation.
Dan Flanagan
Reply to @David News:
More & more NBP energy is being generated from renewable sources: wind & solar seem to be economic. But there is a big price for large scale electricity production. A few plants are old but they only get used during winter load, a far cheaper alternative to decommissioning them. Just what plant or process do you see as inefficient or not economically efficient? Keep in mind that coal & oil are significantly cheaper than 5 years ago.
More & more NBP energy is being generated from renewable sources: wind & solar seem to be economic. But there is a big price for large scale electricity production. A few plants are old but they only get used during winter load, a far cheaper alternative to decommissioning them. Just what plant or process do you see as inefficient or not economically efficient? Keep in mind that coal & oil are significantly cheaper than 5 years ago.
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Dan Flanagan: And we had a chance to sell this dinosaur for $5 billion.
Now we probably could not give it away.
Now we probably could not give it away.
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Dan Flanagan: If coal and oil are so much cheaper, why is it that Coleson Cove that runs on oil and pet coke costs 14 cents to produce one kw/hr of electricity? By comparison, NB Power charges homeowners 12 cents for one kw/hr. We are told the 14 cents is just the cost of the fuel so what is the all-in cost when you add manpower, maintenance, taxes, and eventual decommissioning costs? It must be north of 20 cents. Madness. Pure Madness.
Roger Richard
Reply to @Fred Brewer: I am not sure that it when well for the Nova Scotians.
Lou Bell
Maybe just suggest N.B. Power move into the 21st century in the supplyng of power . The continued use of coal and the antiquated Mactaquac Dam ( along with the damage it causes annually through flooding , which by the way is caused by many UNDISCLOSED reasons which NB Power fails to publicly disclose ) and Patronage management and crew that haven't a clue what they're doing , keep out power sources in the 19th and 20th centuries at best !
Dan Flanagan
Reply to @Lou Bell:
I agree with your patronage claim. They seem to be a retirement home for political cronies. I would guess most of NBP rank & file would like the patronage to end.
I agree with your patronage claim. They seem to be a retirement home for political cronies. I would guess most of NBP rank & file would like the patronage to end.
Roger Richard
Reply to @Lou Bell: NB Power is planing to refurbish Mactaquac Dam, unfortunately. The 3+ billions $ project will be an unnecessary stress on New Brunswickers. We can buy renewable energy, at a lower cost, from neighbouring juridictions.
David Peters
Why would these eub meeting timings and locations need to be secret? Why isn't there representation for NB Power residential customers?
Imo, much of NB's economic problems revolve around centralized control of the economy.
Fred Brewer
Reply to @David Peters: EUB hearings are open to the public and if you wish to speak all you have to do is register. If you want to read any submissions, everything is on their website. It is a completely open, transparent process. Heather Black is the Public Intervenor who represents residential customers.
David Peters
Reply to @Fred Brewer:
Why would the timings and locations need to be secret? How would the public know where to go, and when to attend?
Why would the timings and locations need to be secret? How would the public know where to go, and when to attend?
David Peters
Reply to @Fred Brewer:
"It is a completely open, transparent process."
When and where was the last eub meeting? When and where will the next eub meeting be?...and dont say late next month, somewhere in Canada.
"It is a completely open, transparent process."
When and where was the last eub meeting? When and where will the next eub meeting be?...and dont say late next month, somewhere in Canada.
Fred Brewer
Reply to @David Peters: They are required to place ads in newspapers well in advance of any hearings. Also it would be posted on their website.
Fred Brewer
Reply to @David Peters: All the information you seek is on their website, or you can call them if you prefer. Not sure what covid has done though, they may be working from home still.
David Peters
Reply to @Fred Brewer:
Nowhere on their site, that I can find, gives timings and locations of meetings. Post a link to a time/location of their last meeting, and or their next meeting, if you can find one.
Roger Richard
Reply to @David Peters: Look for:” http://www.nbeub.ca” It is the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board. This is Matter #357.
David Peters
Reply to @Roger Richard:
There is no time and place for any meeting at the link you sent...
There is no time and place for any meeting at the link you sent...
Fred Brewer
Reply to @David Peters: As stated on their website, covid has shut down any public hearings for now. If a hearing becomes necessary before they re-open the office, it will be held by teleconference. It is up to you to monitor their website or watch the newspaper for upcoming hearings. When a hearing is scheduled you will see it on their website. Currently nothing is scheduled.
Roger Richard
Reply to @David Peters: But, if you dig up a bit you will eventually find Matter #357. Once at that place, go at “other related documents” and you will find the latest arguments (documents). Several are interesting, especially document #66018.
Roger Richard
Reply to @David Peters: NBEUB is very public but one needs to be very patient to be able to research and to find informations.
Roger Richard
Reply to @David Peters: Chief Clerk, Ms. Kathleen Mitchell, will help anyone with questions. She is very helpful.
Alex L
Are they kidding? The costof hydro in winter is already through the roof. what does a consultant from San Francisco have to do with local realities? Lack of representation by the local consumers is an understatement. NB is doing EVERYTHING to push people out of the province. Then they whine that people don't want to stay here. Who will pay taxes to support the aging population when working professionals finally throw in the towel and get the hell out? This province is moribund as it is and they are doing MORE, not less to keep it this way and even expedite the process.
Dan Flanagan
Reply to @Alex L:
I lived in California in 1986. Electricity for a family averaged $600/month. That would be $1,200 in today's dollars. The $150/month I pay here is about cheap as I can imagine. No wonder they are going in the hole every year.
I lived in California in 1986. Electricity for a family averaged $600/month. That would be $1,200 in today's dollars. The $150/month I pay here is about cheap as I can imagine. No wonder they are going in the hole every year.
Roger Richard
Reply to @Dan Flanagan: NB Power is a Crown Corporation unlike many other jurisdictions. It is important to keep it that way.
Roger Richard
Reply to @Roger Richard: We are at risk of losing NB Power if we do not take care of business...
Fred Brewer
And why is the focus only on residential customers? If it costs more to produce electricity in the winter, then that cost should be borne equally by ALL consumers and this would include mills and refineries.
Lewis Hamilton
Reply to @Fred Brewer: Because this change would only impact residential customers. Industrial customers negotiate a rate that already takes into consideration the seasonal change in cost to produce electricity. Electricity for heating would be a small fraction of their electricity consumption. Their electricity consumption remains relatively the same all year. For residential customers who heat with electricity, their consumption increases drastically during the winter.
The reason the EUB is proposing this change is to make it fair for customers who do not use electricity to heat. Right now, the cost to produce electricity is averaged throughout the whole year and customers are charged according to that average. Say I heat my house with natural gas, and you heat with electricity. I'm subsidizing your choice to heat with electricity because of the averaging. If the price of electricity was charged seasonally, based on the cost to produce, we would both have reduced bills in the summer because the cost to produce in the summer is lower. However, in the winter, both our bills would go up because the cost to produce is higher. The difference is that your electricity consumption is 4 times mine in the winter because of your use of electricity to to heat. If my bill increases $100 from summer to winter, your bill increases $400. The amount I would save from lower rates in the summer would be offset by the increased winter rates and my net change over the year would be zero. You, however, would end up paying a lot more over the year as the increased amount you pay in the winter would be more than you save in the summer because of the difference in your consumption from season to season.
The reason the EUB is proposing this change is to make it fair for customers who do not use electricity to heat. Right now, the cost to produce electricity is averaged throughout the whole year and customers are charged according to that average. Say I heat my house with natural gas, and you heat with electricity. I'm subsidizing your choice to heat with electricity because of the averaging. If the price of electricity was charged seasonally, based on the cost to produce, we would both have reduced bills in the summer because the cost to produce in the summer is lower. However, in the winter, both our bills would go up because the cost to produce is higher. The difference is that your electricity consumption is 4 times mine in the winter because of your use of electricity to to heat. If my bill increases $100 from summer to winter, your bill increases $400. The amount I would save from lower rates in the summer would be offset by the increased winter rates and my net change over the year would be zero. You, however, would end up paying a lot more over the year as the increased amount you pay in the winter would be more than you save in the summer because of the difference in your consumption from season to season.
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Lewis Hamilton: Thank you for your detailed answer, some of which I accept. However, please show me any proof that seasonal costs are already figured into Industrial rates, and by the way, only a handful of industries are large enough to "negotiate" a rate. You can guess who those industries are. Everyone else is stuck to a pre-determined rate and that includes all retail and small businesses. Why not have them share the true cost also? Many of them heat with electricity.
Furthermore, it is my belief that the negotiated rates for heavy industry do not reflect cost of production at all. The negotiated rates are nothing more than a hidden subsidy and are below the cost of production, which in turn gets subsidized by all other rate payers which is patently unfair.
Furthermore, it is my belief that the negotiated rates for heavy industry do not reflect cost of production at all. The negotiated rates are nothing more than a hidden subsidy and are below the cost of production, which in turn gets subsidized by all other rate payers which is patently unfair.
Mary Smith
Reply to @Fred Brewer: Also, can someone explain how smart meters and charging different rates by time of day or seasons can mean lowering your bill if you reduce your personal usage during those peak times? If I were to avoid doing laundry and only do it during off peak times, would my bill actually go down, or would smart meters only work to increase a persons bill, not decrease their bill?
I know a couple in town that did an experiment to reduce their water consumption for an entire month in an attempt to lower their bill -- and it had no impact on their bill whatsoever -- so where is the incentive to conserve energy when doing so does not lessen your bill, but if you increase usage you get charged more? Shouldn't it be a two way street? Shouldn't there be incentives there to decrease your usage if you worked to use power during off peak times rather than during peak times?
I know a couple in town that did an experiment to reduce their water consumption for an entire month in an attempt to lower their bill -- and it had no impact on their bill whatsoever -- so where is the incentive to conserve energy when doing so does not lessen your bill, but if you increase usage you get charged more? Shouldn't it be a two way street? Shouldn't there be incentives there to decrease your usage if you worked to use power during off peak times rather than during peak times?
Fred Brewer
Reply to @Mary Smith: In theory if you shift your electricity usage to off-peak hours, you should save money. But NB Power has not revealed their rate structure. I would be worried that the off-peak rates will remain at the rate they are currently charging customers, and the on-peak rates would be higher. If they do that, no matter what you do, your electricity bill will be higher.
Mary Smith
Reply to @Fred Brewer: That's exactly what I'd imagine they'd do. Your bill would only go up, never down.
Roger Richard
Reply to @Mary Smith: Me too.
Dave Shimla
how about lets stop the ridiculous amount of bonuses paid out to the executives. Hey CBC lets do a story on that, dig into the bonuses, people will be shocked.
Dan Flanagan
Reply to @Dave Shimla:
I checked it out. The number of $200,000 seat warmers was astounding, in the thousands.
I checked it out. The number of $200,000 seat warmers was astounding, in the thousands.
Dave Shimla
Reply to @Dan Flanagan: yup, now we need to know why We have a nuclear power plant, 50 giant windmills , Mactaquac and irving power ect......for a population of 750K and our power keeps climbing as they sell power to other places for cheaper rates.
Johnny Jakobs
Reply to @Dave Shimla: cause most of "our" power is sold state side.
Roger Richard
Reply to @Dave Shimla: In 2018, 57% of the NB Power’s employees made over $100,000... That is 1,496 persons.
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: We have too many Americans on the Board of Directors of NB Power.
Johnny Jakobs
That's their brain trust. Ex US military or contract workers for US military.
Johnny Jakobs
This is another phase of the intended use of smart meters.
Profits and bonuses aren't high enough for the top brass?
Roger Richard
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: Yep, since 2012 when they started talking with Siemens.
https://www.saintjohn.ca/en/home/cityhall/protectiveservices/police/about/policecommission/default.aspx
Saint John Board of Police Commissioners
The Saint John Board of Police Commissioners is the governance authority for the Police Force. The role of the Board is to establish a vision and actionable objectives for the community, to provide oversight (including complaints) and to ensure accountability in the application of Police resources to accomplish the objectives.
The Saint John Board of Police Commissioners has a responsibility under the Police Act to “provide and maintain an adequate police force” and to advise Common Council accordingly, so the municipality can budget the necessary money. In determining what constitutes an adequate police force, the Board (in consultation with the Chief of Police) has established priorities and objectives.
2019 Annual Report
2020 Consolidated Operating Budget
Phone - (506)648-3324
policecommission@saintjohn.ca
The Saint John Board of Police Commissioners has a responsibility under the Police Act to “provide and maintain an adequate police force” and to advise Common Council accordingly, so the municipality can budget the necessary money. In determining what constitutes an adequate police force, the Board (in consultation with the Chief of Police) has established priorities and objectives.
2019 Annual Report
2020 Consolidated Operating Budget
policecommission@saintjohn.ca
Mayor Don Darling don.darling@saintjohn.ca |
Appointed from July 25, 2016 to the end of his term in May 2020. |
Councillor Gary Sullivan gary.sullivan@saintjohn.ca |
Appointed by Common Council on July 30, 2018 to the end of his term in May 2020. |
Maike White maike.white@saintjohn.ca |
Appointed by the Minister of the Department of Justice and Public Safety on November 10, 2017 for a three year term - November 10, 2017 to November 10, 2020 |
Michael Costello michael.costello@saintjohn.ca |
Appointed by Common Council on July 30, 2018 for a three year term - July 30, 2018 to July 29, 2021. |
Douglas Jones douglas.jones@saintjohn.ca |
Appointed by Common Council on December 3, 2018 for a three year term – December 3, 2018 to December 3, 2021. |
Edward W. Keyes, Q.C. edward.keyes@saintjohn.ca |
Appointed by Common Council on November 19, 2018 for a three year term – November 19, 2018 to November 19, 2021. |
https://coxandpalmerlaw.com/people/edward-w-keyes/
Edward W. Keyes, QC
Managing Partner
- Phone:(506) 633-2706
- Fax:(506) 632-8809
- Cell:(506) 333-9009
https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks it should be a small wonder to many folks in BC that CBC did not offer a comment section to oppose this monumental Bullshitter who landed a job in the Maritimes N'esy Pas?
http://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2016/09/re-rcmp-lonnie-landrud-his-knowledge-of.html
#nbpoli#cdnpoli
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-john-police-chief-racism-diversity-1.5618773
Saint John police chief says he's never witnessed racism in long career
Policing agencies need to do things differently and involve people, says Stephan Drolet
CBC News· Posted: Jun 19, 2020 3:01 PM AT
https://www.cenb.com/fr/337-gaetan-thomas-joint-l-equipe-du-cenb1
nouvelles
Gaëtan Thomas joint l’équipe du CÉNB
Cette semaine, le Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick a le plaisir d’annoncer que Gaëtan Thomas joindra notre équipe à titre de président-directeur général. La plupart d’entre vous le reconnaitront facilement puisqu’il a dirigé Énergie Nouveau-Brunswick au cours des dix dernières années. La communauté d’affaires francophones pourra dorénavant compter sur sa vaste expérience professionnelle, ce qui s’avèrera particulièrement important pour notre réseau en cette période décisive au niveau économique.
Notre nouveau PDG possède un grand désir de faire une différence pour sa province et cette nouvelle étape de sa carrière lui permettra de contribuer à sa communauté d’une nouvelle façon. Après plus de 38 ans chez Énergie Nouveau-Brunswick dont dix années comme PDG, Gaëtan Thomas est un gestionnaire chevronné qui connaît bien la province. Il est reconnu comme un chef de file positif qui mobilise son équipe.
Ce leadership s’est d’ailleurs révélé au grand jour pendant la crise du verglas qui avait particulièrement touché la Péninsule acadienne. Il s’était alors rendu sur place pour aller à la rencontre des communautés affectées. Sa présence sur le terrain pendant cette situation de crise a mobilisé les différentes parties prenantes pour aider les gens à traverser cette période difficile.
Comme il a vécu dans plusieurs communautés de la province, Gaëtan Thomas connaît bien les particularités et les réalités distinctes des différentes régions du Nouveau-Brunswick. Il comprend et estime la juste valeur de la francophonie économique et saura contribuer à sa valorisation et à sa croissance.
Comme PDG du CÉNB, il devra être à l’écoute de la communauté d’affaires pour non seulement bien comprendre ses préoccupations, mais aussi pour développer des solutions pour appuyer nos entreprises et propulser notre économie à un autre niveau.
La pandémie a apporté toutun lot de défis sans précédent pour nos gens d’affaires, mais la reprise de notre économie est dorénavant amorcée. Nous devons maintenant réfléchir collectivement comment notre province peut effectuer un virage pour tirer son épingle du jeu dans notre nouvelle réalité. Les prochains mois et les prochaines années s’avèreront cruciaux à bien des points de vue pour nos entreprises et le CÉNB et son nouveau PDG seront là pour les appuyer avec des actions concrètes en collaboration avec nos partenaires.
Marie Chamberland
Présidente
Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick
Marie Chamberland
Présidente
Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick
Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick Inc.
236, rue Saint-George, bureau 314
Moncton N.-B. E1C 1W1
236, rue Saint-George, bureau 314
Moncton N.-B. E1C 1W1
Téléphone : (506) 857-3143
Marie Chamberland est présidente du Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick (CÉNB). Elle a occupé le poste de vice-présidente du mois de juin 2015 à décembre 2016. Entrepreneure autonome depuis mai 2016, elle est également chargée de cours au Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick, campus de Dieppe. Elle a auparavant agi à titre de propriétaire de deux franchises Second Cup à Moncton et à Dieppe de 2011 à 2016 où elle a acquis de solides compétences en gestion des ressources humaines, en service à la clientèle, en leadership et en management.
Précédemment, Marie a accumulé une vaste expérience en administration et en gestion financière, en occupant diverses fonctions au sein d’entreprises néo-brunswickoises et d’UNI Coopération financière.
Marie étudie pour l’obtention d’une maîtrise en administration des affaires (MBA) de l’Université de Moncton et détient un diplôme en administration des affaires et management du Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB). Elle est membre du Conseil académique de l’éducation permanente de l’Université de Moncton. Elle est originaire de Kedgwick / St-Quentin.
https://huddle.today/gaetan-thomas-new-ceo-of-n-b-francophone-business-network/
Gaëtan Thomas New CEO Of N.B. Francophone Business Network
Gaëtan Thomas. Image: Submitted
MONCTON – The board of Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick (CÉNB) has named Gaëtan Thomas its new CEO, effective July 6.
He succeeds Thomas Raffy, who stepped down as CEO on April 24. CENB President Marie Chamberland was filling in as interim CEO.“I chose to get involved with the CÉNB because I believe in our province’s possibilities and in our francophone business community. I was always an ally of the CÉNB and I am happy to now closely collaborate on its many projects,” said Thomas in a release.
“I am looking forward to meeting the network’s members when circumstances allow and to help francophone businesses start a new turn in this decisive time. The pandemic brought a lot of new challenges for our province and we need to work together to contribute to the rise of our communities.”
Thomas had been the CEO of NB Power for a decade before deciding to step down by May 2020. The utility named Keith Cronkhite as his successor in March.
Thomas’ career at NB Power started in 1982 after he graduated with an engineering degree from the University of New Brunswick. Before becoming CEO, he held various positions in operations, engineering, project design and commissioning, as well as senior and executive management.
As CEO, he restructured NB Power to become an integrated utility that resulted in a leaner, more efficient organization. Under his leadership, NB Power also launched a partnership with Siemens to develop a made-in-New Brunswick smart grid and refurbished Point Lepreau’s Nuclear Generating Station.
Now at the helm of CÉNB, he’ll lead the provincial network of approximately 800 Francophone businesses and entrepreneurs. The organization serves as their voices, including to promote their role and value in economic development in the province and to celebrate their contributions.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors and CÉNB’s members, I am very happy to rely on Gaëtan Thomas’s vast experience that will be particularly important for our network in this decisive period at the economic level for our province. Our new CEO has a strong desire to make a difference in his province and he will mobilize our members and our partners around concrete initiatives that will propel the economy of our province,” said Chamberland in the release.
“We are very proud of this nomination and we are happy to rely on him for strong leadership to take the helm with conviction and determination.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-seasonal-rates-meters-1.4142118
Seasonal power rates could cause consumer backlash, says consultant
NB Power needs new meter system before charging different seasonal prices, says report
· CBC News· Posted: Jun 01, 2017 7:13 PM AT
NB Power has been ordered to examine whether it should charge lower prices in the summer and higher in the winter, to better reflect true costs. (CBC)
A consultant hired by NB Power is warning of significant consumer "backlash" if the utility is made to establish seasonal rates for electricity.
The consultant's report even suggests customers might have to read their own power meters at midnight twice a year — on April Fool's and Halloween — to make the system work.
"Virtually all bills will have errors ... billing disputes can be expected to increase, possibly dramatically, and there will be no means of resolving disputes in a satisfactory way," reads a report by Elenchus Research Associates that was commissioned by NB Power and filed with the Energy and Utilities Board on Thursday.
NB Power is in the middle of a year-long "rate design" review ordered by the EUB that is focused in part on whether the utility should charge lower prices for electricity in the summer and higher prices in the winter to better reflect the actual cost of serving customers.
New network of meters needed
Elenchus was asked to study how that might work but the company is arguing against any switch until NB Power upgrades its entire network of power meters.Elenchus said seasonal rates require an accurate reading of every customer's power meter at midnight on March 31 and again on Oct. 31, the dates when power rates would switch between winter and summer prices.
A consultant's report says NB Power doesn't have the manpower to properly read meters if it brings in seasonal rates. (CBC)
But NB Power does not have the sophisticated infrastructure in place to read meters remotely, or the manpower to visit every customer location on the same day, so Elenchus said the utility would have to guesstimate bills or rely on the technical savvy and honesty of customers themselves.
"Customers could be asked to read their own meters late in the day on March 31 (and October 31)," suggested the report. "Aside from the obvious inconvenience and impracticality of that approach, NB Power would have no means of verifying the customers' meter reads."Residential customers would see hike
Another looming controversy with seasonal rates is that it would raise costs for residential customers, especially to those who heat with electricity.Elenchus estimated seasonal rates would add nearly $6 million to the cost of residential bills overall, with the largest increases flowing to those with baseboard heat.
Electric heat customers consume the majority of their power during the five months that would have the highest prices and Elenchus said that is another reason to wait for better power meters before proceeding.
NB Power has an ambitious plan to bring in a new meter system, and the consultant's report recommends waiting for that to happen before switching to seasonal rates. (Google Street View)
NB Power has an ambitious plan to upgrade meters and related infrastructure as part of its transformation to a "smart grid," but it is a multi-year plan.
Once in place the utility would be able to read meters remotely hour to hour, allowing power rates to be adjusted for times of the day and days of the week as well as seasonally.Consumers will also have in-home pricing and consumption displays to help them manage their bills.
Elenchus said waiting for those meters will give electric heat customers a chance to avoid higher seasonal costs by letting them shift power consumption to lower-priced parts of the day.
"The introduction of seasonal rates would be more acceptable once AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) has been deployed," concludes the report.
A final hearing on NB Power's rate design, where seasonal rates and other changes will be considered, is scheduled for next April.
https://onbcanada.ca/press-releases/nb-power-siemens-and-unb-launch-network-to-spur-innovation/
NB Power, Siemens and UNB launch network to spur innovation
From left: NB Power president and CEO Gaëtan Thomas; Opportunities NB CEO Stephen Lund; Fredericton MP Matt DeCourcey; Siemens Canada president and CEO Robert Hardt; David Burns, vice-president of research at the university and Energy and Mines Minister Donald Arseneault.
January 28, 2016, FREDERICTON (GNB) – Siemens Canada, NB Power and the University of New Brunswick (UNB) are providing local and global companies with a new testing platform to drive innovation and support business ideas for development and export to world energy markets.
The Smart Grid Innovation Network (SGIN) was officially launched today.
“The federal government is committed to supporting innovation that helps to fight climate change and promote sustainable growth,” said Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, who is also minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). “We are proud to support the Smart Grid Innovation Network, a world-class energy management partnership with the potential to introduce sustainable energy sources to the power grid, and reduce energy waste. This new initiative represents an important and positive step forward for clean energy and sustainable economic development.”
“We are focused upon creating the right environment for innovation to flourish to help create jobs and grow the economy,” said Energy and Mines Minister Donald Arseneault. “This partnership will support local businesses and entrepreneurs while positioning New Brunswick as a centre of excellence to attract companies that want to develop and test smart grid technology. It is a great example of local and international leadership working together to develop innovative ways to make New Brunswick a world leader in smart grid technology.”
SGIN will offer businesses a venue to design, develop and test smart grid related products and services, offering aspiring start-ups and established companies a testing environment to overcome technology hurdles.
“This Smart Grid Innovation Network is Siemens’ newest investment in New Brunswick, and we are incredibly excited about SGIN as a catalyst for innovation and development in the business community with smart grid ready products and services as the outcome – not only to support smart grid deployment here in New Brunswick but to promote it throughout the Siemens world and beyond,” said Robert Hardt, president and CEO of Siemens Canada.
The SGIN is comprised of three interconnected labs, each with a number of virtual and physical lab elements. These include:
Beyond the physical labs, SGIN is intended to offer a single point of contact for local and global companies for smart grid related development and testing, as well as provide research and development testing. To assist this, SGIN will host workshops and conferences to engage and exchange knowledge among users and potential users of the network.
Siemens will invest more than $1 million in funds and in-kind support over the next five years into the SGIN and its testing environment, known as the Interoperability Lab. NB Power will invest about $2 million in funds and in-kind support in its Product and Services Lab; and UNB has committed more than $2 million in cash and in-kind support, including National Science Engineering Research Council project research funding, to the venture.
At the government level, SGIN is receiving a non-repayable contribution of $2 million from the federal government through ACOA’s Business Development Program to UNB for the creation of a Living Lab that will support the smart-grid power management research and development activities.
In addition, Opportunities NB is investing $840,000 on behalf of the provincial government.
“At UNB, we are incredibly proud to be at the forefront of smart grid research and development,” said David Burns, vice-president of research at the university. “Our collaboration with NB Power and Siemens on the Smart Grid Innovation Network is one of the many examples of the rich eco-system of innovation we have in this province. Investments such as the SGIN are incredibly important to the work we do at UNB and enable our researchers to work together with other stakeholders and innovators to the benefit of all. We see immense potential for the SGIN to foster the co-creation of intellectual property at the cutting edge of smart grid technology.”
Tyler Campbell, communications, Department of Energy and Mines, 506-453-4090.
Laura Heidbuechel, communications, Siemens Canada, 289-952-1600.
Hannah Classen, communications, UNB, 506-443-3917.
Ann Kenney, communications, ACOA, 506-452-3687.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-smart-grid-1.3424022
January 28, 2016, FREDERICTON (GNB) – Siemens Canada, NB Power and the University of New Brunswick (UNB) are providing local and global companies with a new testing platform to drive innovation and support business ideas for development and export to world energy markets.
The Smart Grid Innovation Network (SGIN) was officially launched today.
“The federal government is committed to supporting innovation that helps to fight climate change and promote sustainable growth,” said Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, who is also minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). “We are proud to support the Smart Grid Innovation Network, a world-class energy management partnership with the potential to introduce sustainable energy sources to the power grid, and reduce energy waste. This new initiative represents an important and positive step forward for clean energy and sustainable economic development.”
“We are focused upon creating the right environment for innovation to flourish to help create jobs and grow the economy,” said Energy and Mines Minister Donald Arseneault. “This partnership will support local businesses and entrepreneurs while positioning New Brunswick as a centre of excellence to attract companies that want to develop and test smart grid technology. It is a great example of local and international leadership working together to develop innovative ways to make New Brunswick a world leader in smart grid technology.”
SGIN will offer businesses a venue to design, develop and test smart grid related products and services, offering aspiring start-ups and established companies a testing environment to overcome technology hurdles.
“This Smart Grid Innovation Network is Siemens’ newest investment in New Brunswick, and we are incredibly excited about SGIN as a catalyst for innovation and development in the business community with smart grid ready products and services as the outcome – not only to support smart grid deployment here in New Brunswick but to promote it throughout the Siemens world and beyond,” said Robert Hardt, president and CEO of Siemens Canada.
The SGIN is comprised of three interconnected labs, each with a number of virtual and physical lab elements. These include:
- Smart Grid Research Lab at the University of New Brunswick;
- Interoperability Lab at Siemens; and
- Products and Services Lab at NB Power.
Beyond the physical labs, SGIN is intended to offer a single point of contact for local and global companies for smart grid related development and testing, as well as provide research and development testing. To assist this, SGIN will host workshops and conferences to engage and exchange knowledge among users and potential users of the network.
Siemens will invest more than $1 million in funds and in-kind support over the next five years into the SGIN and its testing environment, known as the Interoperability Lab. NB Power will invest about $2 million in funds and in-kind support in its Product and Services Lab; and UNB has committed more than $2 million in cash and in-kind support, including National Science Engineering Research Council project research funding, to the venture.
At the government level, SGIN is receiving a non-repayable contribution of $2 million from the federal government through ACOA’s Business Development Program to UNB for the creation of a Living Lab that will support the smart-grid power management research and development activities.
In addition, Opportunities NB is investing $840,000 on behalf of the provincial government.
“At UNB, we are incredibly proud to be at the forefront of smart grid research and development,” said David Burns, vice-president of research at the university. “Our collaboration with NB Power and Siemens on the Smart Grid Innovation Network is one of the many examples of the rich eco-system of innovation we have in this province. Investments such as the SGIN are incredibly important to the work we do at UNB and enable our researchers to work together with other stakeholders and innovators to the benefit of all. We see immense potential for the SGIN to foster the co-creation of intellectual property at the cutting edge of smart grid technology.”
MEDIA CONTACT(S):
Marie-Andrée Bolduc, communications, NB Power, 506-458-3212.Tyler Campbell, communications, Department of Energy and Mines, 506-453-4090.
Laura Heidbuechel, communications, Siemens Canada, 289-952-1600.
Hannah Classen, communications, UNB, 506-443-3917.
Ann Kenney, communications, ACOA, 506-452-3687.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-smart-grid-1.3424022
Province still waiting to get on the smart grid
Smart Grid Innovation Network launches, energy-saving tools promised in 2012 still aren't widely available
CBC News· Posted: Jan 28, 2016 4:42 PM AT |
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(CBC)
NB Power and the New Brunswick government are deepening their relationship with the global engineering firm Siemens, handing over more taxpayer dollars while consumers wait to see the benefits of smart–grid technology.
Siemens Canada signed a $35 million contract with NB Power in July 2012 to help the utility develop a so-called smart grid to shift energy generation and consumption away from peak demand periods.
Siemens also received $537,000 in payroll rebates from Invest New Brunswick, at the time, to create jobs at its Fredericton lab. On Thursday, Opportunities New Brunswick, the province's new economic development agency, said it was handing over another $840,000.
The federal government's Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is kicking in another $2 million for the new innovation network.
One of the key products in the Smart Grid plan, "smart thermostats" that let customers and NB Power reduce electricity consumption, are only now being installed in 150 homes as part of a pilot project.
Brad Wasson, who heads the program for NB Power, says the various functions of the thermostats — which will communicate with the utility via the Internet — have to be checked carefully.
"All of that stuff has to be co–ordinated, and we're trying to make sure that it's fool–proof and all the checks and balances are put in place before we go public," he said.
The entire Smart Grid will be run by what's called integrated load management software, and "it took us a while to put that software together, to get it into a lab to test it and make sure it works," Wasson said. "We're now at the point where we're ready to go public and connect customers to these types of tools."
But NB Power's own filings with the Energy and Utilities Board say the smart thermostat program "could be" running by winter 2017–18, still two years away.
Keelen Gagnon, the chief operating officer of SimpTek, a Fredericton company that is developing the software for the Smart Grid, says sometimes large organizations such as NB Power and Siemens can't move as quickly as small start-–ups like his.
"They have certain mandates and things to meet," he says. "We can move much quicker on certain aspects, because we're focused on only one objective while larger organizations have many divisions and many things to concentrate on."
By shifting demand, the utility can reduce the amount of electricity it needs to generate, which also helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
But, Wasson says it isn't quick to turn a century–old power electricity-selling utility into an organization that deters people from consuming energy.
"A hundred years of an infrastructure behaving and thinking one way, then actually pivoting and going in a new direction — it's taken a while for us to pull it all together, to get a common vision of where we're going, and put in place the bits and pieces to make it work."
NB Power officials didn't provide any performance targets for the smart grid by which its success could be measured.
But Wasson says one measure will be the cost savings of reaching the ultimate goal: reducing electricity consumption by 609 megawatts, roughly the equivalent of what one power plant generates.
"As we implement these programs, we're avoiding investment in a power plant we'd otherwise have to build if we didn't find a way to reduce or shift energy," he said. The payback is there in the avoidance of ultimately spending billions of dollars on building power plants."
Despite such long–term goals and slow progress so far, there was no shortage of lofty rhetoric at Thursday's event.
Gaetan Thomas, chief executive officer of Nb Power, said the new innovation network will make the utility and the province "the smart–grid capital of the world," while Hardt said the program will be "a reference project not only for Siemens Canada, but for Siemens globally, and also for the entire energy space worldwide."
Donald Arseneault, minister of energy, joined in, saying people "around the world" were watching the initiative. And David Burns, the vice–president of research at the University of New Brunswick, which is a partner in the project, added that it is "really going to change the world."
HopeCaper
Every time NB arrives on the world stage I get nervous. Because I know we just got taken and the question becomes how much?
Smart grid as has been noted by Strictly Facts is a source of not only the energy we use but has the ability to monitor in formation on devices such as computers. I have read that Smart grid can listen to conversations as well.
Should a private company be able to do this? Should a government be allowed to do this? Why was there never a conversation or invited feedback as to whether we the customers that are paying for this want this?
tilapia girl
maybe the legal department could take a moment and google premier Kathleen wynne and smart meter failure as well perhaps a google of the bc hydro removal of smart meters...if human beings are to be used for data mining they should be told and get free free free power to knowingly participate in experiments.what about the fire hazards where is the minister of public safety?where do the fire chiefs stand on the fire hazards and what is in place to make whole the families who experience loss of any kind resulting from these SMART FOR WHOM METER
Mad Ape
People need to read up on the health hazards, the big brotherly love, and the insecure transmission of data by smart meters. There is nothing good about these unless you are the manufacturer or installer making money. There'll never be one put on my abode.
The Carnival King
A pile of overpriced foolishness for a utility and a province that can't even afford basic ambulance and hospital services, ;let alone education and roads.
A utility the size of a gum wrapper compared to most with Billions in debt and this is what they come up with?
So to follow their "logic", if you use your devices and 50+ year old technology (brick heaters), washers & dryers on "off peak" hrs then it will be cheaper.
(1) We don't have "off peak" power rates or levels,
(2) When everyone starts doing all their chores that use power on "off peak" times, then the so called "off peak" times will now become peak times.
So who benefits? Look into it.............
Ian McShane@The Carnival King With smart meters they can turn off your power remotely like they do in Quebec and meter internal program and calibration settings can be changed from remote at any time so that your bill goes up and you will never know because they are not like the mechanical meters where you can see through the glass that there are no tricks going on...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/consumer-group-blames-hydro-qu%C3%A9bec-smart-meters-for-rise-in-power-cutoffs-1.2834439
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-plans-smart-grid-research-project-1.908616
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices
(CBC)
NB Power and the New Brunswick government are deepening their relationship with the global engineering firm Siemens, handing over more taxpayer dollars while consumers wait to see the benefits of smart–grid technology.
- Siemens and NB Power strike smart grid pact
- Power meter monitor could save you 10% on electricity bill
We're now at the point where we're ready to go public and connect customers.
- Brad Wasson, NB PowerThey touted the program as New Brunswick's arrival on the world stage, while facing questions about why energy-saving tools already promised in 2012 still aren't widely available to NB Power customers.
Siemens Canada signed a $35 million contract with NB Power in July 2012 to help the utility develop a so-called smart grid to shift energy generation and consumption away from peak demand periods.
Siemens also received $537,000 in payroll rebates from Invest New Brunswick, at the time, to create jobs at its Fredericton lab. On Thursday, Opportunities New Brunswick, the province's new economic development agency, said it was handing over another $840,000.
The federal government's Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is kicking in another $2 million for the new innovation network.
One of the key products in the Smart Grid plan, "smart thermostats" that let customers and NB Power reduce electricity consumption, are only now being installed in 150 homes as part of a pilot project.
Brad Wasson, who heads the program for NB Power, says the various functions of the thermostats — which will communicate with the utility via the Internet — have to be checked carefully.
"All of that stuff has to be co–ordinated, and we're trying to make sure that it's fool–proof and all the checks and balances are put in place before we go public," he said.
The entire Smart Grid will be run by what's called integrated load management software, and "it took us a while to put that software together, to get it into a lab to test it and make sure it works," Wasson said. "We're now at the point where we're ready to go public and connect customers to these types of tools."
But NB Power's own filings with the Energy and Utilities Board say the smart thermostat program "could be" running by winter 2017–18, still two years away.
Keelen Gagnon, the chief operating officer of SimpTek, a Fredericton company that is developing the software for the Smart Grid, says sometimes large organizations such as NB Power and Siemens can't move as quickly as small start-–ups like his.
"They have certain mandates and things to meet," he says. "We can move much quicker on certain aspects, because we're focused on only one objective while larger organizations have many divisions and many things to concentrate on."
Brick heaters
Another product NB Power is piloting is a heater that heats bricks during low–demand times, then lets customers draw on that heat during high–demand times.By shifting demand, the utility can reduce the amount of electricity it needs to generate, which also helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
But, Wasson says it isn't quick to turn a century–old power electricity-selling utility into an organization that deters people from consuming energy.
"A hundred years of an infrastructure behaving and thinking one way, then actually pivoting and going in a new direction — it's taken a while for us to pull it all together, to get a common vision of where we're going, and put in place the bits and pieces to make it work."
No performance targets provided
Robert Hardt, chief executive officer of Siemans Canada, says the first three years of the company's contract with NB Power involved "a lot of testing" but now, "it's coming, and it's coming faster and faster ... But it has to be done very thoroughly, so that it really works and it's safe and it shows the benefits."NB Power officials didn't provide any performance targets for the smart grid by which its success could be measured.
But Wasson says one measure will be the cost savings of reaching the ultimate goal: reducing electricity consumption by 609 megawatts, roughly the equivalent of what one power plant generates.
"As we implement these programs, we're avoiding investment in a power plant we'd otherwise have to build if we didn't find a way to reduce or shift energy," he said. The payback is there in the avoidance of ultimately spending billions of dollars on building power plants."
Despite such long–term goals and slow progress so far, there was no shortage of lofty rhetoric at Thursday's event.
Gaetan Thomas, chief executive officer of Nb Power, said the new innovation network will make the utility and the province "the smart–grid capital of the world," while Hardt said the program will be "a reference project not only for Siemens Canada, but for Siemens globally, and also for the entire energy space worldwide."
Donald Arseneault, minister of energy, joined in, saying people "around the world" were watching the initiative. And David Burns, the vice–president of research at the University of New Brunswick, which is a partner in the project, added that it is "really going to change the world."
61 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.HopeCaper
Every time NB arrives on the world stage I get nervous. Because I know we just got taken and the question becomes how much?
Smart grid as has been noted by Strictly Facts is a source of not only the energy we use but has the ability to monitor in formation on devices such as computers. I have read that Smart grid can listen to conversations as well.
Should a private company be able to do this? Should a government be allowed to do this? Why was there never a conversation or invited feedback as to whether we the customers that are paying for this want this?
tilapia girl
maybe the legal department could take a moment and google premier Kathleen wynne and smart meter failure as well perhaps a google of the bc hydro removal of smart meters...if human beings are to be used for data mining they should be told and get free free free power to knowingly participate in experiments.what about the fire hazards where is the minister of public safety?where do the fire chiefs stand on the fire hazards and what is in place to make whole the families who experience loss of any kind resulting from these SMART FOR WHOM METER
Mad Ape
People need to read up on the health hazards, the big brotherly love, and the insecure transmission of data by smart meters. There is nothing good about these unless you are the manufacturer or installer making money. There'll never be one put on my abode.
The Carnival King
A pile of overpriced foolishness for a utility and a province that can't even afford basic ambulance and hospital services, ;let alone education and roads.
A utility the size of a gum wrapper compared to most with Billions in debt and this is what they come up with?
So to follow their "logic", if you use your devices and 50+ year old technology (brick heaters), washers & dryers on "off peak" hrs then it will be cheaper.
(1) We don't have "off peak" power rates or levels,
(2) When everyone starts doing all their chores that use power on "off peak" times, then the so called "off peak" times will now become peak times.
So who benefits? Look into it.............
Ian McShane@The Carnival King With smart meters they can turn off your power remotely like they do in Quebec and meter internal program and calibration settings can be changed from remote at any time so that your bill goes up and you will never know because they are not like the mechanical meters where you can see through the glass that there are no tricks going on...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/consumer-group-blames-hydro-qu%C3%A9bec-smart-meters-for-rise-in-power-cutoffs-1.2834439
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-power-plans-smart-grid-research-project-1.908616
NB Power plans smart grid research project
Technology could lead to lower rates, more usage of renewable power
The federal government is investing $15.9 million in a research project led by NB Power into smart grid technology that could lead to more renewable energy being used in the Maritimes.
The four-year research project will see a total investment of $32 million, of which $15.9 million with come from the federal Clean Energy Fund and $2 million will paid for by the New Brunswick government.
The project will study the changing patterns of power consumption and help electricity companies alter energy production to reduce their share of greenhouse gas emissions.
With the push to put more wind power onto transmission grids, utilities are studying how to balance their power loads when the wind isn't blowing.
Gaetan Thomas, the president and chief executive officer of NB Power, said that is one issue that will be studied in the research project.
"We will be able to minimize the impact on heavy fuel oil that needs to replace when the wind is down," Thomas said.
"And the customers will benefit from cleaner energy and also we'll be able to do it without interrupting the benefits of their electricity."
Smart grids track all electricity in a given system and they increase efficiency by shifting energy use from peak times to reduce demand. This could mean using a dishwasher or dryer when demand for electricity is lower.
NB Power will be joined by Nova Scotia Power and the University of New Brunswick in the research project.
"This project is all about shifting the residential and commercial loads, to facilitate the variation of generation," Chang said.
If the project is successful, NB Power's president said that could pay off for customers.
"If we can reduce our dependence on heavy fuel oil, it has the potential impact to reduce rate increases," Thomas said.
The project is being led by a consortium of companies known as PowerShift Atlantic.
Alan Richardson, the vice-president of integrated customer service at Nova Scotia Power, will be the chairman of PowerShift Atlantic.
National Revenue Minister Keith Ashfield, the minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, said the investment in the smart grid will create job opportunities in the region.
"Our government is investing in this smart grid project to encourage clean energy innovation and to help create high-quality jobs for Atlantic Canadians," Ashfield said in a statement.
The four-year research project will see a total investment of $32 million, of which $15.9 million with come from the federal Clean Energy Fund and $2 million will paid for by the New Brunswick government.
The project will study the changing patterns of power consumption and help electricity companies alter energy production to reduce their share of greenhouse gas emissions.
With the push to put more wind power onto transmission grids, utilities are studying how to balance their power loads when the wind isn't blowing.
Gaetan Thomas, the president and chief executive officer of NB Power, said that is one issue that will be studied in the research project.
"We will be able to minimize the impact on heavy fuel oil that needs to replace when the wind is down," Thomas said.
"And the customers will benefit from cleaner energy and also we'll be able to do it without interrupting the benefits of their electricity."
Smart grids track all electricity in a given system and they increase efficiency by shifting energy use from peak times to reduce demand. This could mean using a dishwasher or dryer when demand for electricity is lower.
NB Power will be joined by Nova Scotia Power and the University of New Brunswick in the research project.
Economically viable
Liuchen Chang, a professor at the University of New Brunswick and the project's lead researcher, said the intent of the initiative is to make renewable energy resources, such as wind, which are unpredictable, more economically viable."This project is all about shifting the residential and commercial loads, to facilitate the variation of generation," Chang said.
If the project is successful, NB Power's president said that could pay off for customers.
"If we can reduce our dependence on heavy fuel oil, it has the potential impact to reduce rate increases," Thomas said.
The project is being led by a consortium of companies known as PowerShift Atlantic.
Alan Richardson, the vice-president of integrated customer service at Nova Scotia Power, will be the chairman of PowerShift Atlantic.
National Revenue Minister Keith Ashfield, the minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, said the investment in the smart grid will create job opportunities in the region.
"Our government is investing in this smart grid project to encourage clean energy innovation and to help create high-quality jobs for Atlantic Canadians," Ashfield said in a statement.