Thank You Claire and Valerie!

The Affordable Energy Coalition honours Claire McNeil and Valerie Getson for decades of service fighting energy poverty and helping households through tough times

Members of the Affordable Energy Coalition recently celebrated the retirement and legacies of two of our longest serving members: Claire McNeil and Valerie Getson.

Valerie joined the AEC on behalf of Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in 2007, and also represented the Face of Poverty. She worked tirelessly to make home energy affordable and less stressful for the many people Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and other agencies assist every year.

Claire has been legal Counsel for the AEC since before its inception, bringing world-renowned economist Roger Colton to Nova Scotia to present the idea of a Universal Service Program to the Utility and Review Board (UARB) in 2004 and 2007. She led the appeal to the Court of Appeal when it rejected energy rates based on income.

Claire and Valerie were both instrumental in creating the HomeWarming program, helping over 25,000 households save hundreds of dollars on their home energy bills by up to $1,700 per year. Later, they helped establish Efficiency Nova Scotia's Affordable Multi-family Housing Program, reducing the bills of hundreds of tenants and non profit organizations. They helped negotiate changes in Nova Scotia Power's practices that have reduced disconnections and provided more clarity and options for people facing loss of power.

In Valerie's final year with AEC she helped the Energy Poverty Task Force produce a report by Roger Colton recommending a Made in Nova Scotia Home Energy Program.

Both of these fierce advocates have brought intelligence, warmth, and compassion to this important work, and a broad understanding of the systems that lead to some Nova Scotians struggling with impossible energy bills. A free lunch and web post seems far from sufficient to thank them for their work, but we hope they enjoy a long and well-earned retirement!