The PUB is dismissing a request by the Consumer Advocate for an oral hearing in Newfoundland Power’s 2024 Capital Budget Application.
Dennis Browne had been calling for a more transparent oral hearing related to a number of issues previous raised, including Newfoundland Power’s filing of an application with the Public Utilities Board asking ratepayers to pay for a new $1.6 million transformer replacement for Memorial University.
The PUB says that the public written hearing process is the preferred approach for annual capital budget applications as it provides a fair review when considering costs and time required to hold an oral hearing.
Newfoundland Power
The Board says the issues raised by Browne have no basis for an oral hearing, as many of the issues can be addressed based on the written record of the proceeding.
They say the issues of the MUN substation, Newfoundland Power’s asset management review and changes to the Board’s Capital Budget Guidelines should be addressed in other Board process, like Newfoundland Power’s upcoming general rate application.
