P.U.  3 (2001-2002)

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF the

PUBLIC UTILITIES ACT,

R.S.N. 1990, c. P-47, as amended

(“the Act”)

                      AND

 

IN THE MATTER OF the application by

Newfoundland Power Inc. (“the Applicant”)

for written consent to abandon a part of its

distribution line (the “Line”) pursuant to

Section 38 of the Act.

 

 

 

 

WHEREAS the Applicant is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, is a public utility within the meaning of the Act, and is subject to the provisions of the Electrical Power Control Act, 1994; and

 

WHEREAS the Applicant advised the Board that the Line consists of a nine-kilometre section of the Riverhead distribution feeder (RVH-02) which was used to serve approximately 200 customers in the communities of St. Joseph’s, O’Donnells, New Bridge, Forest Field and surrounding area (the “St. Joseph’s Area”) and a seven-kilometre section of the Blaketown distribution feeder (BLK-02) which was used to serve approximately 500 customers in the communities of Colinet, Harricott, Mount Carmel, Mitchell’s Brook, St. Catherine’s and Salmonier and surrounding area (the “Colinet Area”); and

 

WHEREAS the Applicant advised the Board that the Line is approximately 30 years old and its deteriorated condition has contributed to poor service reliability in the St. Joseph’s and Colinet Areas; and

 

WHEREAS the Applicant advised the Board that it has reviewed available alternatives to improve the reliability of service to customers in both areas and has chosen to construct a new substation at St. Catherine’s and serve the St. Joseph’s and Colinet Areas over newly-constructed distribution feeders; and

 

WHEREAS the Applicant advised the Board that it has de-energized the Line and proposes to decommission it as the Line is no longer used and useful; and

 

WHEREAS the Applicant advised the Board there are no customers, or potential customers, of the Applicant who will be affected by removal of the Line; and

 

WHEREAS  the Applicant advised the Board that the removal of the Line from service will not adversely affect the reliability of service to customers in the Applicant’s service territory nor will it impair the ability of the Applicant to provide electrical energy in its service territory as required by Section 54 of the Act; and

 

WHEREAS Section 38 of the Act requires the written consent of the Board to abandon part of a line, which consent shall only be given after notice is provided to an incorporated municipal body interested; and

 

WHEREAS on March 8th, 2001 the Board was advised that on November 23, 2000, the Applicant notified representatives of the Community of Riverhead, the Town of St. Joseph’s, the Town of Colinet, and the Town of Mount Carmel, Mitchell’s Brook and St. Catherine’s, the four municipalities directly adjacent to the sections of RVH-02 and BLK-02 being dismantle, of its intention to retire these sections of line from service, and the reasons therefore; and

 

WHEREAS subsequently, representatives from the Town of Colinet requested a meeting to discuss the Applicant’s plans to retire the section of the BLK-02 distribution feed, and the Applicant did not receive any questions or expressions of concern from the other three municipalities; and

 

WHEREAS the Board was advised that on January 9th, 2001, the Applicant met with representative of the Town of Colinet, who expressed concern over the impact the retirement of that section of BLK-02 may have on the potential future development should the Town seek to expand along Route 81, while there are no firm development plans at this time; and

 

WHEREAS the Board was advised that the Applicant advised the Town that, in the absence of firm development plans, it would not be safe to leave a deteriorated de-energized line in place for an extended period of time; and

 

WHEREAS upon receipt of the Application dated March 8, 2001, and reading the affidavit of Alphonsus J. Delaney, sworn to at St. John’s, in the Province of Newfoundland, on the 8th day of March, 2001, and filed therein, on March 15th  and again on March 30th , 2001, the Board wrote to the Community of Riverhead, the Town of  St. Joseph’s, the Town of Colinet, the Town of Mount Carmel, Mitchell’s Brook and St. Catherine’s, the Local Service District of O’Donnell’s, and the Local Service District of Forest Field-Newbridge, requesting any questions or concern with respect to the Application; and

 

WHEREAS the Board received no responses by the deadline date of April 5, 2001, and;

 

WHEREAS on May 7, 2001, the Applicant filed additional information with the Board as to the Line locations.

 

 

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:

Pursuant to Section 38 of the Act, the Board consents to the removal of the Line from service in the manner set out in the Application.

 

                                                                                               

DATED at St. John’s, Newfoundland, this 23rd day of May, 2001.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                ________________________________

                                                                                                Robert Noseworthy,

                                                                                                Chair & Chief Executive Officer.

                                                                                                           

 

 

                                               

                                                                                                ______________________________

                                                                                                Darlene Whalen, P.Eng.,

                                                                                                Vice-Chairperson.

 

 

 

__________________________

G. Cheryl Blundon,

Board Secretary.

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