HALIFAX: The three political party’s in the province weighed in on Tuesday on Nova Scotia Power’s request for rate increases over the next two years.
N.S. Power said in a statement that they had reached a tentative agreement with customer representatives. This means it could see residential rates rise by 8.2 per cent over the next two years. The proposal is subject to approval from the independent Nova Scotia Energy Board, the utility said.
In a statement on the application for a rate increase filed with the Nova Scotia Energy Board, Premier Tim Houston said it shows Nova Scotians just “how out of touch” they are.
“After overseeing one of the largest data breaches in our province’s history, asking Nova Scotians to pay more should not be the utility’s first move,” said Houston.
He said Nova Scotians feel betrayed by Nova Scotia Power.
“This is not the time for a rate increase,” he said. “This is a time for Nova Scotia Power to show they understand Nova Scotians and withdraw or significantly reduce their application.”
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N.S. Liberal Interim leader Derek Mombourquette said that Nova Scotians need more than frustration from their government – they need results.
“Under Tim Houston, power rates have risen more than 20%, and now Nova Scotia Power is asking for even more – on the heels of the province’s largest-ever data breach,” said Mombourquette in a statement.
“The government has repeatedly failed to invest in cleaner, cheaper power.”
He said Premier Houston’s sudden frustration isn’t sincere – it’s damage control for allowing this situation to get out of hand.
“When bills go up, Nova Scotians aren’t just paying for Nova Scotia Power’s mistakes. They’re paying for government inaction,” he said. “The fall session of the House returns in three weeks. We’ll be ready with solutions – and we hope the Premier will be too.”
Opposition leader Claudia Chender responded to the news and Houston’s statement.
“The news that Nova Scotia Power is applying for another huge increase to power rates is almost unbelievable to Nova Scotian families who are already paying some of the highest energy costs in the country,’ said Chender.
“Nova Scotia Power’s proposal to jack up rates by more than eight per cent over two years is simply unmanageable for thousands of people in our province. “
She said people’s power bills have gone up by hundreds of dollars a year since 2021.
“This is an essential cost for Nova Scotians–not a luxury that people can choose to do without,” she said. “The Houston government’s interventions have been a failure, and have done nothing to help people afford their power bills today, ensure affordability going forward, or ensure that companies like Nova Scotia Power safeguard our private information.
“We need a government that will make sure that all Nova Scotians can afford to live a good life.”