2011 Sustainability Report
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2011 Sustainability Report Newfoundland Power: Committed to Sustainable Electricity About this Report This is Newfoundland Power’s fourth annual sustainability report. To determine the content of this document, the Company has used the Canadian Electricity Association’s Sustainable Electricity Indicators. Newfoundland Power: Committed to Sustainable Electricity Page 2 Electricity Contents President’s Message ........................................................................................... Page 4 Corporate Profile ............................................................................................... Page 5 Generating Facilities .......................................................................................... Page 6 Service Area ....................................................................................................... Page 7 Highlights ........................................................................................................... Page 8 Environment ...................................................................................................... Page 10 Transmission and Distribution Lines ........................................................ Page 11 Atmospheric Emissions ............................................................................ Page 12 Recycling CFL’s ......................................................................................... Page 14 Committed to the Environment ................................................................ Page 15 Priority Spills ............................................................................................. Page 16 PCB Management .................................................................................... Page 18 Environmental Management System ...................................................... Page 19 Biodiversity and Land Use ........................................................................ Page 20 Emissions .................................................................................................. Page 21 Adaptation to Climate Change .................................................................. Page 23 Society ................................................................................................................ Page 24 Employees ................................................................................................ Page 25 Workplace Diversity ................................................................................. Page 26 Investment in People ................................................................................ Page 28 Public Education and Stakeholder Engagement ...................................... Page 30 Corporate Awards .................................................................................... Page 33 Innovation ................................................................................................ Page 34 Safety Recognition ................................................................................... Page 35 Economy ............................................................................................................. Page 36 Community Involvement ......................................................................... Page 37 Energy Efficiency ....................................................................................... Page 40 Automated Meters ................................................................................... Page 44 Business Continuity .................................................................................. Page 45 Resource Management ............................................................................ Page 46 Newfoundland Power: Committed to Sustainable Electricity Page 3 Electricity President’s Message At Newfoundland Power, we want to not only meet, but exceed our customer expectations. Our goal is to further increase our operating efficiency and productivity while being a leader in reliability and customer service. In short – we want to be sustainable. For us, sustainability has environmental, economic and social dimensions AND encompasses the concept of stewardship. One of our biggest challenges in working toward sustainability is continually improving our province’s electricity system and service to customers. This lies in our ability to balance capital investments with our customers’ desire for low-cost electricity. We know, to be truly sustainable, we must always strike a balance between investing capital to improve reliability, while at the same time working to reduce operating and maintenance costs over the long-term. As one of the oldest existing businesses in this province I am proud to report we have one of the longest histories of community involvement. It is, and always has been, our employees who make the difference. With over 600 employees and almost 700 retirees located across the province, we will remain unwavering in our commitment to improving safety and reliability as well as caring for our environment and communities. At Newfoundland Power we view ourselves as carpenters building a sustainable home. Every time we make a choice - we do it wisely. After all, we know our life tomorrow will be the result of our attitudes and choices today. Earl Ludlow President and Chief Executive Officer Newfoundland Power Inc. Newfoundland Power: Committed to Sustainable Electricity Page 4 Electricity Corporate Profile Newfoundland Power and its predecessor Newfoundland Power services approximately companies have been engaged in the 85 per cent of the electricity consumers in the production and sale of electricity since 1885. province with Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland Power, a regulated investor- Hydro servicing the remainder. The map on owned electric utility serves over 247,000 page 7 depicts the geographic areas serviced by customers throughout the island portion of the the respective utilities. province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Approximately 97% of Newfoundland Power’s total revenue comes from customer rates. Newfoundland Power… Operates 23 hydro generating plants, three diesel plants, and three gas turbine facilities. Operates 130 substations. Maintains approximately 11,000 km of transmission and distribution lines. Newfoundland Power operates under the jurisdiction of the Newfoundland and Labrador Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities which has regulatory authority over rates, policies, capital expenditures and the issue of securities. All the common shares of Newfoundland Power are owned by Fortis Inc. (TSX:FTS), the largest The Company purchases about 93 per cent of its investor-owned distribution utility in Canada, electricity from the Crown Corporation which serves approximately 2,000,000 gas and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, and electric customers, and has assets exceeding generates the balance from its own smaller $13 billion. hydroelectric stations. The map on page 6 identifies the location of these generating facilities. Customer Distribution Category of Service Number or Customers Residential Customers 214,515 Commercial and Street Lighting 32,648 TOTAL 247,163 Newfoundland Power: Committed to Sustainable Electricity Page 5 Electricity Newfoundland Power Island Generation and Transmission Grid Newfoundland Power: Committed to Sustainable Electricity Page 6 Electricity Geographic Service Areas Newfoundland Power: Committed to Sustainable Electricity Page 7 Electricity Highlights Newfoundland Power: Committed to Sustainable Electricity Page 8 Electricity Newfoundland Power: Committed to Sustainable Electricity Page 9 Electricity Environment Newfoundland Power: Committed to Sustainable Electricity Page 10 Electricity Transmission and Distribution Lines Distribution and Transmission Lines (kms) 12000 2067 2067 2067 10000 8000 Transmission 6000 Distribution 8860 9005 9168 4000 2000 0 2009 2010 2011 Newfoundland Power’s transmission and distribution line management includes identifying deficiencies through inspections and repairing them before they yield negative results. In 2011, Newfoundland Power spent $5.5 million to upgrade transmission lines. To continue providing reliable and safe electricity in 2012, our Company plans to continue this trend. Our plans include strengthening several transmission lines and the construction of distribution lines to connect new customers. Newfoundland Power: Committed to Sustainable Electricity Page 11 Electricity Atmospheric Emissions The Company uses Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) in Based on service history it was determined that its circuit breakers. Sulphur Hexafluoride is a the Westinghouse/Siemens breakers, which persistent greenhouse gas which contributes have been in service for some time, have a significantly to global warming. higher potential to release SF6 gas compared to breakers from other manufacturers. There Newfoundland Power, in its effort to limit the were 30 of these Westinghouse/Siemens amount of SF6 released, has implemented a breakers in service as of year-end 2006. These number of initiatives such as: 30 breakers were identified and scheduled for Using SF6 gas reclaimers to capture SF6 refurbishment. In mid-2008, it was decided gas during maintenance which that the Company would be replacing these significantly reduces the quantity of SF6 breakers with new units. As of year end 2011, being released. 29 units had been refurbished or replaced with Maintaining SF6 circuit breakers to include new breakers. bushing gasket replacement and checks on the