Emera Claims Huge Increase in Hydroelectricity Supply in Muskrat Falls

News of the “greatly improved situation” came in Emera’s latest submission to regulators who heard her request to recover $1.7 billion in final costs from Nova Scotia Power payers for the Maritime Link.

During Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board hearings in December, Emera admitted that only 19 percent of the Nova Scotia Block was completed between August and November 2021.

That was the result of ongoing software issues on the Newfoundland and Labrador portion of the project, which is owned by Nalcor.

Nova Scotia Power customer groups complained that taxpayers were being asked to pay the full cost of the Maritime Link when only a fraction of the promised electricity was delivered.

Ascending deliveries

In December testimony, Nova Scotia Power chief David Landigran predicted supplies were about to ramp up.

In his latest entry, Emera said that’s what happened.

“In recent weeks, the entire Nova Scotia block has been delivered as planned, with only limited scheduled interruptions in light of reduced staffing levels during the holiday season,” Emera said in a Jan. 7 request.

Nova Scotia Power spokesman Jacqueline Foster said on Tuesday that flows will continue at levels similar to those stated in the Jan. 7 filing.

Muskrat falls years behind schedule

The Maritime Link was built by Emera subsidiary Nova Scotia Power Maritime Link to bring the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric plant into the province via a 177-kilometer submarine cable over the Cabot Strait.

While Emera’s transmission system was built on time and on budget, the Muskrat Falls mega project is years behind schedule.

It would send 20 percent of its output and some additional electricity — called the Nova Scotia Block — to the province starting in 2018.

The Nova Scotia bloc didn’t start flowing until August 2021, under “an acceleration agreement” between Emera and Nalcor that got some momentum moving with a promise from Nalcor to make up for the rest later.

Output was limited by ongoing software issues on the Labrador Island Link – a 1,100-mile high-voltage DC transmission line from Muskrat Falls in central Labrador, the site of the 824 megawatt power generating station, to Soldiers Pond on the Avalon Peninsula.

Consumer groups say the final bill will have to wait until the Labrador Island Link – which is still in operation – is fully operational.

$205M in additional fuel costs

As of 2018, Nova Scotia Power customers have paid $205 million in additional fuel costs to generate replacement electricity due to failed deliveries from Muskrat Falls.

But with the electricity flowing, Emera is urging regulators to approve its application.

“Since the full and sustainable delivery of the Nova Scotia block in accordance with the 2013 agreements was achieved in December, Nova Scotia Power Maritime Link believes it has reached the appropriate milestone for full cost recovery,” it said.