Testimony in Town of Mahone Bay Rate Case
On behalf of Counsel to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, Melissa Whited reviewed and filed testimony regarding the General Rate Application of the Town of Mahone Bay Electric Utility. Ms. Whited's testimony addressed issues related to cost allocation, cost of service methods, rate design, and the utility's proposed allowance for storm costs. As a result of Ms. Whited's testimony, the utility agreed to withdraw its storm cost proposal and undertake a process to enhance the data and analysis underpinning its cost allocation factors.
In its decision, the Board accepted Ms. Whited's proposal to classify transformers as 100% demand-related; base the customer charge on cost of service principles, rather than increasing all rate elements proportionately; and modify the allocation of costs to bring each class closer to acceptable revenue-to-cost ratios. In addition, the Board responded to Ms. Whited's rate design concerns by directing the utility to conduct a more detailed review of both its time-of-use rate and declining block rate structures for its next general rate application.