https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
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David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks if Higgy loses the confidence vote next week he and Mikey Holland will be too late to stop the Smart Meter nonsense and appear even remotely ethical N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2019/11/can-nb-power-deploy-smart-meters-within.html
#cdnpoli#nbpoli
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Carr, Jeff Hon. (ELG/EGL)"<Jeff.Carr@gnb.ca>
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2019 20:32:30 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks if Higgy loses the confidence vote
next week he and Mikey Holland will be too late to stop the Smart
Meter nonsense and appear even remotely ethical N'esy Pas?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for your email. Your thoughts, comments and input are greatly valued.
You can be assured that all emails and letters are carefully read,
reviewed and taken into consideration.
There may be occasions when, given the issues you have raised and the
need to address them effectively, we will forward a copy of your
correspondence to the appropriate government official. Accordingly, a
response may take several business days.
If your request is Constituency related, please contact Rose Ann at my
Constituency office in Fredericton Junction at RoseAnn.Smith@gnb.ca or
by phone at 506-368-2938.
Thanks again for your email.
______
Merci pour votre courriel. Nous vous sommes très reconnaissants de
nous avoir fait part de vos idées, commentaires et observations.
Nous tenons à vous assurer que nous lisons attentivement et prenons en
considération tous les courriels et lettres que nous recevons.
Dans certains cas, nous transmettrons votre message au ministère
responsable afin que les questions soulevées puissent être traitées de
la manière la plus efficace possible. En conséquence, plusieurs jours
ouvrables pourraient s’écouler avant que nous puissions vous répondre.
Si votre demande est liée à la circonscription, veuillez contacter
Rose Ann à mon bureau de circonscription à Fredericton Junction à
RoseAnn.Smith@gnb.ca ou par téléphone au 506-368-2938.
Merci encore pour votre courriel.
---------- Original message ----------
From: "MinFinance / FinanceMin (FIN)"<fin.minfinance-financemin.
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2019 20:32:58 +0000
Subject: RE: Methinks if Higgy loses the confidence vote next week he
and Mikey Holland will be too late to stop the Smart Meter nonsense
and appear even remotely ethical N'esy Pas?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
The Department of Finance acknowledges receipt of your electronic
correspondence. Please be assured that we appreciate receiving your
comments.
Le ministère des Finances accuse réception de votre correspondance
électronique. Soyez assuré(e) que nous apprécions recevoir vos
commentaires.
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2019 16:32:27 -0400
Subject: Methinks if Higgy loses the confidence vote next week he and
Mikey Holland will be too late to stop the Smart Meter nonsense and
appear even remotely ethical N'esy Pas?
To: premier@gnb.ca, brian.gallant@gnb.ca, greg.byrne@gnb.ca,
Jack.Keir@gnb.ca, jeff.carr@gnb.ca, benoit.bourque@gnb.ca,
Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca, Hamish.Wright@gnb.ca, blaine.higgs@gnb.ca,
roger.l.melanson@gnb.ca, hugh.flemming@gnb.ca, Bill.Morneau@canada.ca,
Ginette.PetitpasTaylor@parl.
pm@pm.gc.ca, Gerald.Butts@pmo-cpm.gc.ca, jake.stewart@gnb.ca,
bruce.northrup@gnb.ca, oldmaison@yahoo.com, David.Coon@gnb.ca,
megan.mitton@gnb.ca, andre@jafaust.com, martin.gaudet@fredericton.ca,
Jacques.Poitras@cbc.ca, Connell.Smith@cbc.ca, mike.holland@gnb.ca,
kris.austin@gnb.ca, rick.desaulniers@gnb.ca, michelle.conroy@gnb.ca,
tyler.campbell@gnb.ca, nick.brown@gnb.ca, Tim.RICHARDSON@gnb.ca,
carl.urquhart@gnb.ca, Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca, barb.whitenect@gnb.ca,
Gilles.Cote@gnb.ca, Mark.Blakely@rcmp-grc.gc.ca,
serge.rousselle@gnb.ca, robert.gauvin@gnb.ca,
sturgeon.nathalie@
bruce.fitch@gnb.ca, Bill.Oliver@gnb.ca, Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca,
pablo.rodriguez@parl.gc.ca, Chuck.Thompson@cbc.ca,
votejohnw@gmail.com, Wayne.Long@parl.gc.ca
Cc: motomaniac333@gmail.com, robmoorefundy@gmail.com,
robert.mckee@gnb.ca, Kevin.Vickers@gnb.ca, Brenda.Lucki@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
It was small wonder to me that Mr Jones and his boss Darrow MacIntyre
did not allow a comment section to open this time
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
· CBC News· Posted: Nov 15, 2019 6:30 AM AT
![]()
Heather Black is New Brunswick's public intervenor and is one of a number of parties who have been questioning NB Power's recalculated benefits of adopting smart meters. (CBC)
Several major capital projects undertaken by NB Power in the last three years that went millions of dollars over budget, including maintenance shutdowns at various power plants and an undersea transmission line in the Bay of Fundy, are raising questions about the utility's ability to keep a major smart meter deployment on track — if the $92 million project is approved.
NB Power is facing a second hearing before the Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) in January as it seeks permission to install so-called Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). The plan hinges on the installation of 360,000 smart meters with NB Power's entire residential and commercial customer base.
Hundreds of pages of evidence to be considered in the application have already been filed with the EUB and are on the public record for review.
Among that evidence are dozens of written questions about AMI submitted to NB Power that were answered earlier this week. One of those, by New Brunswick public intervenor Heather Black asked the utility directly about its track record with capital budgets and why it has only included a provision for cost overruns of two per cent on the majority of proposed AMI costs.
"Given historical cost overruns, what is the company's rationale for setting a two per cent cost contingency value for the AMI capital project?" asked Black
![]()
Maintenance outages at Point Lepreau, which are planned months and sometimes years in advance, went over budget in both 2018 and 2019 by a combined $12.2 million or 17.6 per cent. (CBC)
"The drivers for cost overruns during a maintenance outage generally differ from those that might occur in the AMI project," wrote the utility in reply to Black.
"Maintenance outages, although well planned, often result in unforeseen emergent work. When a plant is shut down and equipment is dismantled, other issues may arise or other repairs need to be made that were not planned."
The other capital projects that went over budget were all related to transmission infrastructure, including 17.5 kilometers of new submarine power lines to Campobello and Grand Manan Islands. Those cost $44.4 million over two years to acquire and install, $7.2 million more than expected.
![]()
The Maersk Connector laid down two new undersea power lines this summer to feed electricity to Campobello and Grand Manan Islands. The project cost $44.4 million, $7.2 million over budget. (Brian Chisholm/CBC)
NB Power's first application to adopt AMI was rejected by the EUB last year for being uneconomical after the utility presented evidence showing costs outweighed benefits over a 15-year period by $1.3 million.
This time, the utility has reworked the figures and claims benefits of the project will be $31.1 million, or 28.4 per cent, greater than costs over the same 15 year period — a change that is generating intense scrutiny among those scheduled to participate in the January hearing.
Multiple questions have been directed at assumptions underpinning the significant increase in the recalculated benefits of AMI, including Black's question around the likelihood of the project staying on, or at least close to budget to realize those benefits.
![]()
A scheduled maintenance shutdown at NB Power's Belledune coal fired generating station in 2017 went $2.8 million or 13.5 per cent over budget. This year the utility did the work for $300,000 less than projected - a point it made in defence of its ability to properly plan and execute a major assignment. (CBC)
Other "variable" capital costs have a 10 per cent cost overrun cushion built into the estimate with one riskier element budgeted with a 26.5 percent contingency, the utility noted.
"This was added because the contract has not yet been executed and there is a possibility of scope changes during negotiations," it said.
NB Power also noted that a number of capital projects it has undertaken since 2017 have come in under budget, including the most recent maintenance shutdown at Belledune.
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks if Higgy loses the confidence vote next week he and Mikey Holland will be too late to stop the Smart Meter nonsense and appear even remotely ethical N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2019/11/can-nb-power-deploy-smart-meters-within.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Carr, Jeff Hon. (ELG/EGL)"<Jeff.Carr@gnb.ca>
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2019 20:32:30 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks if Higgy loses the confidence vote
next week he and Mikey Holland will be too late to stop the Smart
Meter nonsense and appear even remotely ethical N'esy Pas?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for your email. Your thoughts, comments and input are greatly valued.
You can be assured that all emails and letters are carefully read,
reviewed and taken into consideration.
There may be occasions when, given the issues you have raised and the
need to address them effectively, we will forward a copy of your
correspondence to the appropriate government official. Accordingly, a
response may take several business days.
If your request is Constituency related, please contact Rose Ann at my
Constituency office in Fredericton Junction at RoseAnn.Smith@gnb.ca or
by phone at 506-368-2938.
Thanks again for your email.
______
Merci pour votre courriel. Nous vous sommes très reconnaissants de
nous avoir fait part de vos idées, commentaires et observations.
Nous tenons à vous assurer que nous lisons attentivement et prenons en
considération tous les courriels et lettres que nous recevons.
Dans certains cas, nous transmettrons votre message au ministère
responsable afin que les questions soulevées puissent être traitées de
la manière la plus efficace possible. En conséquence, plusieurs jours
ouvrables pourraient s’écouler avant que nous puissions vous répondre.
Si votre demande est liée à la circonscription, veuillez contacter
Rose Ann à mon bureau de circonscription à Fredericton Junction à
RoseAnn.Smith@gnb.ca ou par téléphone au 506-368-2938.
Merci encore pour votre courriel.
---------- Original message ----------
From: "MinFinance / FinanceMin (FIN)"<fin.minfinance-financemin.
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2019 20:32:58 +0000
Subject: RE: Methinks if Higgy loses the confidence vote next week he
and Mikey Holland will be too late to stop the Smart Meter nonsense
and appear even remotely ethical N'esy Pas?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
The Department of Finance acknowledges receipt of your electronic
correspondence. Please be assured that we appreciate receiving your
comments.
Le ministère des Finances accuse réception de votre correspondance
électronique. Soyez assuré(e) que nous apprécions recevoir vos
commentaires.
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2019 16:32:27 -0400
Subject: Methinks if Higgy loses the confidence vote next week he and
Mikey Holland will be too late to stop the Smart Meter nonsense and
appear even remotely ethical N'esy Pas?
To: premier@gnb.ca, brian.gallant@gnb.ca, greg.byrne@gnb.ca,
Jack.Keir@gnb.ca, jeff.carr@gnb.ca, benoit.bourque@gnb.ca,
Dominic.Cardy@gnb.ca, Hamish.Wright@gnb.ca, blaine.higgs@gnb.ca,
roger.l.melanson@gnb.ca, hugh.flemming@gnb.ca, Bill.Morneau@canada.ca,
Ginette.PetitpasTaylor@parl.
pm@pm.gc.ca, Gerald.Butts@pmo-cpm.gc.ca, jake.stewart@gnb.ca,
bruce.northrup@gnb.ca, oldmaison@yahoo.com, David.Coon@gnb.ca,
megan.mitton@gnb.ca, andre@jafaust.com, martin.gaudet@fredericton.ca,
Jacques.Poitras@cbc.ca, Connell.Smith@cbc.ca, mike.holland@gnb.ca,
kris.austin@gnb.ca, rick.desaulniers@gnb.ca, michelle.conroy@gnb.ca,
tyler.campbell@gnb.ca, nick.brown@gnb.ca, Tim.RICHARDSON@gnb.ca,
carl.urquhart@gnb.ca, Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca, barb.whitenect@gnb.ca,
Gilles.Cote@gnb.ca, Mark.Blakely@rcmp-grc.gc.ca,
serge.rousselle@gnb.ca, robert.gauvin@gnb.ca,
sturgeon.nathalie@
bruce.fitch@gnb.ca, Bill.Oliver@gnb.ca, Ross.Wetmore@gnb.ca,
pablo.rodriguez@parl.gc.ca, Chuck.Thompson@cbc.ca,
votejohnw@gmail.com, Wayne.Long@parl.gc.ca
Cc: motomaniac333@gmail.com, robmoorefundy@gmail.com,
robert.mckee@gnb.ca, Kevin.Vickers@gnb.ca, Brenda.Lucki@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
It was small wonder to me that Mr Jones and his boss Darrow MacIntyre
did not allow a comment section to open this time
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
Can NB Power deploy smart meters within its proposed budget?
Utility is facing questions after big cost overruns on eight previous capital projects
· CBC News· Posted: Nov 15, 2019 6:30 AM AT
Heather Black is New Brunswick's public intervenor and is one of a number of parties who have been questioning NB Power's recalculated benefits of adopting smart meters. (CBC)
Several major capital projects undertaken by NB Power in the last three years that went millions of dollars over budget, including maintenance shutdowns at various power plants and an undersea transmission line in the Bay of Fundy, are raising questions about the utility's ability to keep a major smart meter deployment on track — if the $92 million project is approved.
NB Power is facing a second hearing before the Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) in January as it seeks permission to install so-called Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). The plan hinges on the installation of 360,000 smart meters with NB Power's entire residential and commercial customer base.
Hundreds of pages of evidence to be considered in the application have already been filed with the EUB and are on the public record for review.
Among that evidence are dozens of written questions about AMI submitted to NB Power that were answered earlier this week. One of those, by New Brunswick public intervenor Heather Black asked the utility directly about its track record with capital budgets and why it has only included a provision for cost overruns of two per cent on the majority of proposed AMI costs.
Cost overruns total $35.5 million
Maintenance outages at Point Lepreau, which are planned months and sometimes years in advance, went over budget in both 2018 and 2019 by a combined $12.2 million or 17.6 per cent. (CBC)
Last month, in response to a separate round of questioning, NB Power acknowledged that eight significant capital projects it has completed since 2017 — originally projected to cost $188.9 million — finished over budget by a combined $35.5 million (18.8 per cent).
A number of those cost overruns occurred during planned maintenance shutdowns at its large generating stations, including two shutdowns at the Point Lepreau nuclear generating station and one each at the Belledune coal fired generating station and Coleson Cove oil fired generating station. The utility says those are unique events and cannot be fairly compared to what might happen during a large scale deployment of smart meters in the province."Maintenance outages, although well planned, often result in unforeseen emergent work. When a plant is shut down and equipment is dismantled, other issues may arise or other repairs need to be made that were not planned."
The other capital projects that went over budget were all related to transmission infrastructure, including 17.5 kilometers of new submarine power lines to Campobello and Grand Manan Islands. Those cost $44.4 million over two years to acquire and install, $7.2 million more than expected.
Intense scrutiny of plan
The Maersk Connector laid down two new undersea power lines this summer to feed electricity to Campobello and Grand Manan Islands. The project cost $44.4 million, $7.2 million over budget. (Brian Chisholm/CBC)
Advanced Metering Infrastructure refers to a collection of physical and digital upgrades to the electrical grid, including the installation of smart meters that will allow NB Power to collect individual consumption data from customers electronically in real time instead of once a month by a meter reader.
The utility hopes that will allow for all sorts of pricing and service innovations that the current electrical grid cannot deliver, like offering different electricity prices at different times of the day to match periods of low and high demand.NB Power's first application to adopt AMI was rejected by the EUB last year for being uneconomical after the utility presented evidence showing costs outweighed benefits over a 15-year period by $1.3 million.
This time, the utility has reworked the figures and claims benefits of the project will be $31.1 million, or 28.4 per cent, greater than costs over the same 15 year period — a change that is generating intense scrutiny among those scheduled to participate in the January hearing.
A scheduled maintenance shutdown at NB Power's Belledune coal fired generating station in 2017 went $2.8 million or 13.5 per cent over budget. This year the utility did the work for $300,000 less than projected - a point it made in defence of its ability to properly plan and execute a major assignment. (CBC)
NB Power acknowledges it has allowed for only two per cent cost overruns on just over half of the project expenses but argues that is on equipment for which fixed-cost contracts have already been negotiated.
"The fixed price contract protects NB Power from unforeseen overages, resulting in low risk. As a result, the contingency was set accordingly," said the utility in response to Black's question. Other "variable" capital costs have a 10 per cent cost overrun cushion built into the estimate with one riskier element budgeted with a 26.5 percent contingency, the utility noted.
"This was added because the contract has not yet been executed and there is a possibility of scope changes during negotiations," it said.
NB Power also noted that a number of capital projects it has undertaken since 2017 have come in under budget, including the most recent maintenance shutdown at Belledune.