Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board IN THE MATTER OF The Public Utilities Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c.380, as amended
Post-Tropical Storm Arthur Progress Update
August 13, 2015
Post-Tropical Storm Arthur Progress Report
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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1.0
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 3
4
2.0
UPDATES ON ACTION ITEMS ..................................................................................... 4
5
2.1
Items for which Actions have been completed ....................................................... 4
6
2.2
Items for which Actions continue, or were completed since last report. ................ 5
7
2.2.1
Damage Assessment ................................................................................... 5
8
2.2.2
Mutual Assistance Allies ............................................................................ 6
9
2.2.3
Post-event Critique...................................................................................... 7
10
2.2.4
Arthur Remediation: Communications and Technology Project ................ 7
11
2.2.5
Vegetation Management and Storm Hardening .......................................... 9
12
2.2.6
Critical Care Facilities .............................................................................. 10
13
2.2.7
Smart-Grid Technology ............................................................................ 10
14
3.0
ITEMS ARISING FROM LIBERTY’S DECEMBER 15, 2014 REPORT ................ 11
15
3.1
ETR Strategy ......................................................................................................... 11
16
3.2
Stress Testing ........................................................................................................ 11
17
3.3
Claims Process ...................................................................................................... 11
DATE FILED: August 13, 2015
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1.0
INTRODUCTION
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Nova Scotia Power Inc. (NS Power or the Company) is pleased to provide this quarterly
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update on Post-Tropical Storm Arthur (Arthur) Action Plans, covering the period from
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May 1 to July 31, 2015. Quarterly Updates were previously filed by NS Power on
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November 17, 2014, and February 17 and May 15, 2015.
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On October 10, 2014, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (UARB or Board)
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issued its Order concerning NS Power’s preparedness and response to Arthur. The Board
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ordered that NS Power implement 32 directives from the Liberty Consulting Group’s
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(Liberty) September 9 Report,1 and address and respond to eleven recommendations from
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other Intervenors.
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quarterly report2 is provided in Section 2.
A summary of NS Power’s progress since the filing of the last
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In a letter to NS Power dated January 7, 2015, the Board added three further directives,
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referencing pages 13-14 of the Liberty report dated December 15, 2015.3 An update on
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NS Power’s progress on these 3 directives is provided in Section 3.
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This report addresses Action Plans created by NS Power. NS Power continues to be
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committed to implementing these directives in an efficient and timely manner for the
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benefit of our customers.
1
Liberty Consulting Group, Comments on Review of NSPI's Storm Response, M06321, Exhibit A-4, September 9, 2014. 2 NS Power, Post-Tropical Storm Arthur, Progress Update, M06321, Exhibit A-22, May 15, 2015. 3 Liberty Consulting Group, Post-Tropical Storm Arthur, Comments on NS Power’s Storm Response Reports, M06321, Exhibit A-12, December 15, 2014.
DATE FILED: August 13, 2015
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2.0
UPDATES ON ACTION ITEMS
2.1
Items for which Actions have been completed
2 3 4 5
Most of the Action Items recommended by Liberty and other Intervenors have been
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completed. In this Update, the Company can report the completion of eight further
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Action Items. Please refer to the table below.
8 Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 12, 13, 14 and 16 15 17 18 19 20, 21 22 23, 24, 25,26, 27 28 29, 30 31 32 33 34 35 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 42 43 3.1 3.2 3.3
Status Reported closed May 15, 2015. Remain open and updated in this report. This report contains the final update on this Item. Reported closed May 15, 2015. This report contains the final update on this Item. This report contains the final update on this Item. Reported closed May 15, 2015. This report contains the final update on this Item. Remain open and updated in this report. Reported closed May 15, 2015. Remain open pending the Board’s Decision on Vegetation Management recommendations. This report contains the final update on this Item. Reported closed May 15, 2015. This report contains the final update on this Item. Reported closed May 15, 2015. This report contains the final update on this Item. Reported closed May 15, 2015. Remains open and updated in this report. Reported closed May 15, 2015. Remains open and updated in this report. Remains open and updated in this report. This report contains the final update on this Item.
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DATE FILED: August 13, 2015
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2.2
Items for which Actions continue, or were completed since last report
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Implementation continues on several action items, as described below.
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2.2.1
Damage Assessment
6 7
Items 12 to 14 and 16
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Item 12: Conduct a thorough review of the damage assessment performance and
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identify action plans.
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Item 13: Develop expertise in using a projection tool such as statistical damage
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projection.
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Item 14: Correct the problems in determining damage level and the resources
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needed.
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Item 16: Address the issue of damage assessment quality and timeliness.
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These items are being addressed by the Damage Assessment performance review
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currently being conducted.
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In NS Power’s previous Updates, several of the specific items of the Damage Assessment
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Action Plan were reported complete. The plan continues to be actioned, with open items
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updated below.
22 Task Statistical Projection Tool
Status Ongoing
Due Date Revised to Q4 2015
DA User Training Program
Pending
Upon roll-out of electronic data collection platform
DATE FILED: August 13, 2015
Details NS Power’s existing GIS has the ability to perform statistical projection. NS Power has engaged an external consultant to validate and implement this feature. No change since May 15, 2015 Progress Update.
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Task Update ROPS ESRP Sub-plan Section 6.0
Status In Progress
Due Date Revised to Q4 2015
DA Data Processing
Pending
Revised to Q4 2015
DA Data Reporting
In Progress
Revised to Q4 2015
Details A Regional Operations (ROPS) subplan revision will be completed to reflect process changes as a result of the implementation of this Action Plan. This will be implemented as part of a larger ROPS sub-process revision which is in progress. NS Power has engaged an external consultant to build geoprocessing reports to be run on demand by endusers. We are also assessing our ability to associate DA data with ADMS events. Revised completion date pending outcome of external consultant’s work.
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2.2.2
Mutual Assistance Allies
3 4
Item 15
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Follow through promptly developing and strengthening ties with mutual assistance
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allies.
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NS Power has completed its actions relating to this item. NS Power is regularly attending
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the North Atlantic Mutual Assistance Group conferences. NS Power has also reached out
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to utilities in the North Atlantic Mutual Assistance Group for one-on-one conversations
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to reinforce relationships, discuss travel logistics, and confirm resource availability, and
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will repeat this outreach on a regular basis. NS Power has committed to the CEA
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National Mutual Assistance Agreement dated March 4, 2015. NS Power has also
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committed to maintain participation in the CEA Mutual Assistance Working Group
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which will manage future updates to the CEA Mutual Assistance Agreement.
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DATE FILED: August 13, 2015
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2.2.3
Post-event Critique
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Item 18
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Follow specifically the PEC process for Arthur and address action items.
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NS Power has completed its actions relating to this item. The Post-Event Critique (PEC)
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action plan for PTS Arthur was completed and submitted to internal stakeholders in
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November 2014. As of June, 2015, of the 50 action items identified in the PEC action
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plan, 48 are complete and 2 were cancelled as other action items implemented made them
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unnecessary.
11 12
2.2.4
Arthur Remediation: Communications and Technology Project
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Item 19 and Items 22 to 27:
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Item 19: Redesign the automated Outage Line to provide individualized outage
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restoration status to all callers.
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Item 22: Fortify the website so that high demand does not render the site unusable.
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Item 23: Enhance the website to let customers report outages, and get individualized
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outage restoration status.
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Item 24: Enhance the website to provide the same individualized outage information
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to customers logging-in as the automated outage line.
22
Item 25: Revise the ETR Strategy and expand it to provide ETRs for all customers
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affected.
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Item 26: Pursue other multi-channel communication options.
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Item 27: Educate customers and other key constituents on the new outage
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communication options.
27 28
Items 19 and 22 are complete. Items 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 continue to be addressed by
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NS Power through the comprehensive Arthur Remediation: Communications and
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Technology Project.
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DATE FILED: August 13, 2015
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The Company has engaged industry-leading vendor iFactor for the new customer
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preference portal and the Outage Map. Development has been completed and testing has
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started. Item 25, to provide ETRs (Estimated Time to Restore) for all affected customers,
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will be completed on August 31, 2015. The scheduled project implementation date for
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the remaining items is targeted for October 31, 2015. The following table shows the
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updated project dates and milestones.
7 Action Item Item 19: Redesign the automated Outage Line to provide individualized outage restoration status to all callers.
Status Completed in April, 2015 with the deployment of ADMS, the automated outage line now provides all customers with a power on/off status.
Item 22: Fortify the website so that high demand does not render the site unusable.
Completed in January, 2015 with the update of www.nspower.ca with a new server with increased capacity to host the outage page. Also increased the internet bandwidth from 100Mbits/sec to 1Gbit/sec. Completed the load testing of the website.
Item 23: Enhance the website to let customers report outages, and get individualized outage restoration status. Item 24: Enhance the website to provide the same individualized outage information to customers logging-in as the automated outage line.
Targeted date is October 31, 2015 to implement changes to the website to allow customers to report their individual outages and monitor outage conditions.
Item 25: Revise the ETR Strategy and expand it to provide ETRs for all customers affected.
Targeted date is August 31, 2015 to change the outage threshold to allow individual ETRs to be spoken to every customer through our existing tollfree Outage Telephone line.
Item 26: Pursue other multichannel communication options.
Targeted date is October 31, 2015 to implement a new customer preference portal where customers can enroll in proactive alerts and notification from NS Power’s customer website through outbound email and two-way text.
DATE FILED: August 13, 2015
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Item 27: Educate customers and other key constituents on the new outage communication options.
Targeted date is October 31, 2015 to execute the Corporate Communications Plan to support new outage communication features. This will include the launch of a customer education training video on new outage communication options, storm preparedness and priority of restoration.
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2 3
2.2.5
Vegetation Management and Storm Hardening
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5
Items 29 and 30
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Item 29: Develop a comprehensive plan for widening 69 kV line corridors.
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Item 30: Develop a comprehensive plan for reclaiming and/or widening the
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overgrown ROW corridors.
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NS Power filed Reply Evidence with respect to these recommendations on May 25, 2015,
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a Reply Submission on June 30, and the project plan for the 69 kV widening project on
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July 31, 2015. NS Power awaits the Board’s Decision or further direction.
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Item 31
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Develop a cyclical program for three phase lines being aerially trimmed along the
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highways.
17 18
NS Power has completed its actions relating to this item. As mentioned in the last report,
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all vegetation areas that are classified as Urban have been moved to a 7-year cycle and
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will continue to be addressed on that rotation.
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The Asset Protection vegetation areas are currently being reclassified as Asset Renewal –
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Urban or Asset Renewal – Sustainable. This reclassification allows the focus on these
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areas to be on managing the vegetation to either an Urban classification (7-year cycle) or
25
a Sustainable classification (minimum future management required).
DATE FILED: August 13, 2015
These new
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Post-Tropical Storm Arthur Progress Report
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classifications are now part of NS Power’s annual Vegetation Management program, and
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the Asset Protection classification will be phased out going forward.
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Item 33
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Contractors working on private lands should follow the Province's guidelines
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"Working near Power Lines".
7 8
NS Power has completed its actions relating to this item. Further to the actions listed in
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the last Progress Update dated May 15, 2015, NS Power continues to participate in
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Harvester and Woodland Events. This outreach strategy will be an ongoing part of the
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annual vegetation management program going forward.
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2.2.6
Critical Care Facilities
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Item 35
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How are "critical facilities" placed on a priority list with respect to power
17
outages?
18 19
NS Power has completed its actions relating to this item, as reported in the November 17,
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2014 and February 17 and May 15, 2015 Progress Updates.
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2.2.7
Smart-Grid Technology
23 24
Item 42
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Further assessment of broader application of smart-grid technology.
26 27
NS Power is continuing to actively evaluate the implementation of Smart Grid
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technology in our business. A new role has been created within the Company to lead and
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manage all smart grid initiatives, effective July 13, 2015.
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equipment-to-equipment communications, sensors/monitoring equipment and storage
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technology will also be evaluated.
DATE FILED: August 13, 2015
Future opportunities in
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3.0
ITEMS ARISING FROM LIBERTY’S DECEMBER 15, 2014 REPORT
3.1
ETR Strategy
2 3 4 5
The Project created to revise the ETR strategy and high-volume outage
6
communications should be closely monitored until completion.
7 8
NS Power response:
9 10
This project continues to be a top priority for the Company and NS Power continues to
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keep Liberty informed of progress.
12 13
3.2
Stress Testing
14 15
NS Power should stress test the new high-volume outage communications solutions
16
prior to go-live.
17 NS Power response:
18 19 20
This continues to be part of the Communications and Technology project plan, and is
21
scheduled to take place before the go-live date of October 31, 2015.
22 23
3.3
Claims Process
24 25
NS Power should strengthen its communications with customers about its
26
responsibilities for storm-related damages and the claims process.
27 28
NS Power response:
29 30
NS Power has completed its actions relating to this item.
DATE FILED: August 13, 2015
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