Rate Case Support

Bates White regularly assists clients with rate case reviews. Recent examples include:

On February 22, 2023, Vincent Musco testified before the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board (NBEUB) in Fredericton, New Brunswick regarding his expert report assessing New Brunswick Power Corporation's (NB Power) request for an 8.9% increase in customer rates beginning on April 1, 2023. The requested rate increase by NB Power, the primary electric utility in New Brunswick, is based on a total one-year revenue requirement of $2.3 billion, including $1.1 billion in fuel and purchased power costs. Vincent's expert report and testimony, which was submitted on behalf of the NBEUB, recommended that NB Power update its projected fuel and purchased power expense in light of significant changes in commodity price forecasts, foreign exchange rates, and interest rates. Vincent also noted that NB Power was projecting to violate a statutory requirement to source at least 40% of its energy from renewable sources, and he made several recommendations, including suggested changes to the utility's commodity price hedging program.

Bates White was retained on several occasions to review Nova Scotia Power, Inc.'s general rate applications. Our expert reports, authored by Vincent Musco and Karen Morgan, have assessed NSPI's fuel and purchased power costs, load forecasts, purchased power arrangements and assumptions, hedging program, rate design, and allocation of certain costs across rate classes.