Nova Scotia Power filed a revised PLT staffing report with the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board just before the Easter long weekend, a report which now provides projections for PLTs at NSP over the next four years. (See the table on the top of the last page of this report). The number of projected qualified PLTs declines dramatically from 2013 to 2018 (from 172 PLTs in 2013 to 137 PLTs in 2018—that is 35 fewer red seal PLTs). However, the number of bodies in the trade is not projected to decrease at the same precipitous rate, as the projections allow for a robust apprenticeship program (increasing from 11 projected apprentices in 2014 to more than double that with 31 in 2018). The projected overall decline in PLT and PLT apprentices combined is 17 tradespeople over five years (from 2013 to 2018).

Currently there are 165 Red Seal PLTs at NSP. There are 7 fourth-phase apprentices who are writing their Red Seal exam in May, bringing the total number of red seal PLTs at NSP to 172. There are also four second-phase PLT apprentices (176 total). NSP's projection for combined PLTs and PLT apprentices in 2014 is 178. However, that number seems to assume that NSP will be successful in retaining all their qualified PLTs and also that none of their current PLTs retire (by our calculations there are 10 PLTs who can retire in 2014; there are also upward of 10 PLTs who have made commitments to leave the province). Also keep in mind that there are quite a number of red seal PLTs who have not successfully secured a permanent job with NSP, as the number of posted vacancies over the last 18 months has not kept pace with the number of former apprentices who have successfully completed the NSP PLT apprenticeship program. (Those PLTs are included in all the PLT numbers, but those individuals do not enjoy the same security as PLTs with permanent jobs.)

(See the attached letter from Jeff Richardson to the UARB, responding to NSP's April 4, 2014 redacted PLT staffing report to the UARB).