BILL NO. 213

(as introduced)

1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
1 Charles III, 2022

 

Private Member's Bill

 

Public Utilities Act
(amended)

 

Claudia Chender
Dartmouth South

First Reading: October 19, 2022

(Explanatory Note)

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

Explanatory Note

This Bill

(a) defines "storm-hardening plan";

(b) requires a public utility that provides electricity to

(i) prepare and file a 10-year storm-hardening plan, and

(ii) file an update to the plan every 3 years; and

(c) gives the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board authority to ensure the plan includes sufficient investments to protect ratepayers from the costs of more frequent extreme weather.

An Act to Amend Chapter 380
of the Revised Statutes, 1989,
the Public Utilities Act,
Respecting Storm Hardiness for Electricity Utilities

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 Chapter 380 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Public Utilities Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 52F the following Sections:

52G In Sections 52H and 52I, "storm-hardening plan" means a plan to ensure the hardiness of plant and equipment for the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of electric power.

52H (1) On or before March 31, 2023, a public utility that produces, transmits, delivers or furnishes electric power shall prepare and file with the Board, for the approval of the Board, a 10-year storm-hardening plan.

(2) A storm-hardening plan filed under subsection (1) must be updated every three years and filed with the Board, for the approval of the Board, on or before March 31st of that year.

52I (1) The Board shall review and satisfy itself that a storm-hardening plan filed under Section 52H includes sufficient investments to protect ratepayers from the costs of more frequent extreme weather.

(2) Where the Board is not satisfied with the results of its review under subsection (1), it shall direct the public utility to make such amendments to the storm-hardening plan and any further investments it deems necessary.

 

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