Premier Houston critical of NS Power rate hike, says province needs ‘real competition’

Premier Tim House speaks in the Nova Scotia Province House. (Jesse Thomas/CTV News Atlantic)

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is criticizing the Nova Scotia Power rate hike that came into effect on Friday, saying ratepayers need “real competition.”

Houston, who has spoken against the rate hikes for months, said he was disappointed with the decision.

“I showed the Board why the increase is not acceptable, but the Board disagreed and despite Nova Scotian’s continued disappointment in the service received by Nova Scotia Power, the Board still gave them an increase,” Houston said in a written statement.

“I don’t agree with the Board but I can’t interfere with the independent Energy Board decision. This would have unintended consequences that would only make it harder to bring in the competition necessary to offer alternate power suppliers for Nova Scotians.”

On Thursday, the Nova Scotia Energy Board approved a 3.1 per cent rate increase for May 1 and a 3.9 per cent hike that will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

NS Power had originally sought a 3.8 per cent hike on residential rates retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026, followed by a 4.1 per cent increase on Jan. 1, 2027.

The energy board initially approved the rate application on March 25 pending a compliance filing from the utility that addressed concerns around proration to implement the new rates in light of the 2025 cyberattack.

“NS Power provided some hypothetical calculations to estimate the impact of proration on a residential customer whose bill over April and May started and ended with an actual reading,” the board’s written decision reads. “For such a customer, NS Power estimated the prorating impact on the bill could amount to $0.63 on the total bill over the two-month period.”

In his statement, Houston said the only way to lower power rates is to increase competition to force companies to offer better value to customers.

“The only real option is to work to provide Ratepayers choice so they are not always stuck with NS Power,” Houston said. “That’s exactly what we are doing. From the very real Mersey River Wind Project, to the prospect of using our own, cheaper natural gas, to working with the federal government on major projects and putting the legislative framework in place to support real competition.”

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