What Is Wrong With Nova Scotia Power?

[maplesyrup]

Residents blast Nova Scotia Power after storm leaves thousands in dark

"Something has to be done. I live in a developed country. I do not live in a Third World country. I pay taxes to enjoy that privilege of living in a developed country," Yaschuk told company representatives.

This is absurd. What has Nova Scotia Power done? Eliminated all the jobs so there is no personnel to deal with storms. Perhaps the executives of this utility should all be replaced by people who care about the communities from which they take millions every year.

Nova Scotia Power, if it is a private company, perhaps should be nationalized if they can't get the job done.

[Newfie Canadian]

It's a monopoly, and I think monopolies have a tendancy to become complacent when the threat of a better competition isn't there. I believe another result of a monopoly is that they are regulated to the point where they cut corners anywhere to save money to put towards the bottom line.

Another thing is, and we've seen it in Quebec with the ice storms a few years ago, the blackout last year in Ontario and the NE US, and the 3 major power outages in the last year in NS, that serious upgrades to the power infrastructure is needed, everywhere.

Ironic that today they were supposed to go before the provincial regulatory body to ask for a rate increase.

[August1991]

Newf, MS's point is that it's a private, for profit company. No doubt, MS believes that NS Power has cut corners to make capitalist, fat cats richer and ordinary people are now suffering.

If I understand, NS Power was once a government-managed organisation. Privatised in 1992 (?), it is now a firm with American links (oh no!) subject to a provincial regulatory board.

[Anyone know if I've got this right?]

Why the mess, twice, after a storm?

First, the province could have regulated the monopoly better, if that's the problem.

Second, how much safety do people want? If Nova Scotians want, they could have electricity all the time regardless of weather or even earthquakes if all transmission wires were put underground in duplicate. The cost of such guaranteed power would be tremendous.

IME, Canadians manage and Maritimers more than most. The cost of this outage is far less than the cost of the outage two summers ago because of a boo-boo in Ohio.

For the Maritimes, I say guarantee that hospitals get power and maybe servers before the UPS dies. After that, Nova Scotians can manage the risk on their own - like Newfoundlanders.

Incidentally Quebec is independent from North America, at least in electricity (so is part of Texas). The 120 volt AC current has a 60 cycle synchronized across North America. IOW, plus and minus occur simultaneously everywhere except in Quebec (and part of Texas). Why?

Historically, the Quebec system tended to crash and North Americans didn't want this volatility included in their grid. They ostracized Quebec.

I have a suspicion this tendency to crash is part of the NS system too. It's typical of our geography and reliance on hydro for our power. (Hydro is a truly Canadian word, shared with Norwegians.)

[Newfie Canadian]

If I understand, NS Power was once a government-managed organisation. Privatised in 1992

Good call August. It was indeed privatized in 1992, and is subject to a regulatory body called UARB (Utilities And Review Board) for rate increases and the like.

it is now a firm with American links

It's part of a parent company called Emera, which has operations in the NE US, but from what I can find they are a Canadian based company (based in NS).

[takeanumber]

The problem with Nova Scotia power is that the power grid is in Nova Scotia.

It's pretty basic people: it's Canada.

It's a hostile environment.

Suck it up.

[maplesyrup]

If the climate is that bad, then why haven't the power companies planned for it, and laid the power cables underground. Yes. yes, it is more expensive, but not that expensive if it done over a period of time. Sounds like very lousy planning to me.

I bet you they have large profits and I say nationalize the incompetent bastards, or scam artists perhaps would be a better description.

[takeanumber]

The lines arn't underground because Nova Scotia wastes all of its money subsidizing wasteful industries and paving rural roads for votes.

Nova Scotia has tons of money, it just doesn't spend it well.

[Newfie Canadian]

Nova Scotia has tons of money, it just doesn't spend it well.

That could probably be said about every government in the country.

The thing about the recent power outages in NS is it hasn't happened before like this. I would submit that it isn't all weather related. I live in Atlantic Canada, and while that much snow is strange for this time of year, it happens. And it is going to get worse during the winter months.

What's going to happen then? I wouldn't be very confident if I lived in NS right now.

[maplesyrup]

I don't think NS power should be let off the hook so easily.

When it was privatized the brilliant executives substantially cut back the work force. No wonder power has not been restored.

The executives need to get the boot, and NS Power needs to be brought back into the public sphere where it belongs.

Let's have a little critical analysis, instead of the typical Canadian hand-wringing, eh!