The Affordable Energy Coalition has filed its opening statement with the Nova Scotia Energy Board in Nova Scotia Power’s 2026–2027 General Rate Application hearing. The statement highlights Nova Scotia’s high rate of energy poverty, with 43% of households spending more than 6% of their income on energy, and raises four key concerns: affordability for low- and modest-income households, excessive utility profits, the need to centre equity in the transition to zero-carbon energy

Last week, the Affordable Energy Coalition appeared before the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to deliver an opening statement at Nova Scotia Power’s General Rate Application hearing. At the hearing, Nova Scotia Power requested electricity rate increases of 3.8% this year and 4.1% next year —at a time when many households are already struggling to keep the lights on and their homes warm. The morning after the hearing, Chris Benjamin spoke with CBC’s Information Morning  

On a recent episode of Maritime Connection, EAC Senior Energy Coordinator Chris Benjamin and New Brunswick affordable-energy advocate Randy Hatfield tackled the issue of rising power rates in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, exploring the challenges households face and the steps consumers can take to respond. They discussed how public advocacy shapes fair energy policy, outlined strategies for communities to push back against rate hikes, and emphasized that informed, collective

The Affordable Energy Coalition honours Claire McNeil and Valerie Getson for decades of service fighting energy poverty and helping...

Two months after recommendations were made to create a Nova Scotia Home Energy Assistance Program, the Nova Scotia government has agreed to consider the changes but hasn't decided if those changes will be made or not. Brian Gifford predicts that this decision will be made in the fall. The changes the Energy Poverty Task Force is asking for include: Bill affordability component which would put a credit on people's bills for electricity or for oil. An arrears program would pro

Roger Colton worked closely with members of the Nova Scotia Energy Poverty Task Force to prepare his report: “A Way Forward - A...

Full report to coming soon.

The substantial increase in funding and in target population for HARP creates an unprecedented opportunity to do some research that would...

The Affordable Energy Coalition applauds the provincial government’s free low income Heat Pump program and the expanded Heating...

In the matter of an Application by Nova Scotia Power Incorporated for Approval of Certain Revisions to its Rates, Charges, and...

We have 3 concerns about the amendments proposed to the Public Utilities Act in Bill 212. The first is that there is no direct relief to...

Monthly on-bill credits reduce the amount of stress and extra costs that households facing unaffordable energy costs face. One of AEC's...

This review was conducted after AEC became aware in 2019 of recent sources of data which challenged and expanded on some of the...

Until now, the Nova Scotia Legislature has not amended s.67(1) so as to give the Utility and Review Board the jurisdiction to order NSPI...

What is a Universal Service Program? A four part program to ensure low income households can afford the electricity they need....

Nova Scotia Power’s application for large rate increases raises many controversial questions. Premier Tim Houston has said the Nova...

Energy efficiency cuts energy poverty Further to Monday’s front page story about NS Power bills I’d like to draw attention to the low...

Introduction- Nova Scotians are angry about the increases in electricity rates from NSPI over the last several years. Electricity rates...