2026–2027 General Rate Application

General Rate Application Settlement Agreement and Filing

After more than six months of discussions, consultations, and information sharing, we developed a consensus approach with customer representatives to make a General Rate Application (GRA) filing for 2026–2027 customer rates (Tuesday, September 2, 2025). The GRA outlines to the Nova Scotia Energy Board (NSEB) revenue required to support the investments needed to meet the needs of customers in Nova Scotia—today and into the future.

On Thursday, September 18, we filed a GRA with the NSEB. As part of the regular process, the NSEB will evaluate the GRA filing and ultimately set rates for all customers.

If approved, the residential rate impact of the filing is expected to be approximately 3.9% in each of 2026 and 2027. Other customers, including small business and industrial customers, would see similar or lower increases, resulting in a proposed overall average annual rate increase across all customer groups (including residential, small business, and industrial customers) of 2% in each of 2026 and 2027.

The customer representatives we worked with to reach this consensus approach to the GRA include the Consumer Advocate (CA), the Small Business Advocate (SBA), the Industrial Group (IG), the Berwick Electric Commission, Riverport Electric Light Commission, the Town of Mahone Bay, the Town of Antigonish, and Port Hawkesbury Paper (PHP).

The Energy Board will make a final determination on rates for each customer group.

Read our letter to the Energy Board >

View the filing here >

Reliability Investments Are at the Core

Together with customer representatives, we were committed to finding a solution to the ever-increasing need to invest in reliability, balanced with the very real cost pressures on customers. At the core of the settlement are the critical reliability investments required to make the grid as strong and resilient as possible. Our existing Reliability Plan includes over $1.3 billion in reliability-focused upgrades over five years, including storm hardening, vegetation management, and grid modernization. This Settlement Agreement supports the first two years of our five-year plan.

Investments in reliability will allow us to:

  1. Proactively invest in the grid to make it stronger and more reliable
  2. Expand tree trimming and vegetation management programs to reduce outage risks
  3. Upgrade our infrastructure to prevent future failures and ensure long-term reliability
  4. Improve storm response to get the lights back on faster after extreme weather events
  5. Enhance customer communication to provide real-time updates on outages and restoration

Check out our regional highlights >

How community shaped our plan

Community engagement has been an essential part of our Five-Year Reliability Plan and rate application process. Over the past two years, we have enhanced how we engage with customers across Nova Scotia to incorporate their feedback on their needs and priorities.

a hotel room filled with people sitting in chairs in a meeting

Community Meetings

Meetings have been taking place in communities across the province to help incorporate feedback into our local plans to improve reliability for customers.

Did you know? Over 40 community meetings occurred in 2024 and are continuing throughout 2025 and beyond.

 

A male Nova Scotia power employee in safety gear outside

Reliability Team and Roles

A new Reliability team was established, including Reliability Advisors hired in each region of the province to engage with customers and help address local reliability related issues in their communities.

Did you know? We’ve also hired 53 powerline technicians, 33 apprentices, and 32 more field support roles since 2023.

 

Person in a hard hat using a power drill on an overhead light

Engaging with Low-income Advocates

Working closely with low-income advocates and stakeholders, we’ve enhanced our solutions to ensure customers who are struggling know how to find the help they need.

Did you know? This work has led to a reduction in residential disconnections—from 3,183 in 2023 to 1,782 in 2024.

 

A number of people sitting around a table in a meeting

Community Advisory Committee

Earlier this year we established a Community Advisory Committee, including community and business leaders from across Nova Scotia who meet quarterly to discuss and provide feedback on topics related to Nova Scotia Power and how we serve their communities.

 

What would this mean for residential electricity rates?

The Nova Scotia Energy Board (NSEB) will make a final determination on rates for each customer group as part of their decision on the General Rate Application. The below scenarios provide examples of how customer bills could change under the proposed settlement agreement.

Jamie

Jamie owns a three-bedroom house with electric baseboard heating and an electric water heater. She works from home a few days a week, watches TV recreationally, and likes her home to be a bit warmer. Due to electric heating, her bill tends to be higher in the winter, so she’s considering Equal Billing to have a consistent monthly payment.

  • Her average monthly energy usage is 829 kWh
  • That means her monthly spending is $181.69
  • If Jamie receives a bill every two months, her bill will be $363.39

After the proposed 2026 increase takes place:

  • Her average monthly spend would be $189.15
  • If Jamie receives a bill every two months, her bill would be $378.29

Alex

Alex lives in a one-bedroom apartment, works part time, and enjoys playing video games with their friends.

  • Their average monthly energy usage is 300 kWh
  • That means their monthly spend is $78.60
  • If Alex receives a bill every two months, their bill will be $157.19

After the proposed 2026 increase takes place:

  • Their average monthly spend would be $81.82
  • If Alex receives a bill every two months, their bill would be $163.64

Sam

Sam owns a four-bedroom home with their partner Charlie. They have three teenage kids and heat their home with electric baseboards, so their energy use is a bit higher than average.

  • Their average monthly energy usage is 1,800 kWh
  • That means their monthly spend is $370.93
  • If Sam receives a bill every two months, their bill will be $741.86

After the proposed 2026 increase takes place:

  • Their average monthly spend would be $386.14
  • If Sam receives a bill every two months, their bill would be $772.29

Sam can expect increased usage in the winter months:

  • Their average usage in winter months (December–March) could be around 2,600 kWh.
  • The 2025 winter average monthly spend will be $526.84 (or $1,053.69 if billed every two months).
  • The 2026 winter average monthly spend would be $548.45 (or $1,096.90 if billed every two months).
  • Our Equal Billing Plan can help Sam manage their budget by spreading the cost of their annual electricity use over 12 equal monthly payments.
  • Switching to a heat pump could also help Sam use significantly less electricity than baseboard heaters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to reach a settlement?

Together with customer representatives, we were committed to finding a solution to the ever-increasing need to invest in reliability, balanced with the very real cost pressures on customers. After more than six months of discussions, consultations, and information sharing, we reached a settlement with customer representatives. The settlement outlines to the Nova Scotia Energy Board (NSEB) what we require through power rates to meet the needs of customers in Nova Scotia.

Why are you requesting a rate increase?

At the core of the settlement are the critical reliability investments required to make the grid as strong and resilient as possible. Our existing Reliability Plan includes over $1.3 billion in reliability-focused upgrades over five years, including storm hardening, vegetation management, and grid modernization. The settlement supports the first two years of our five-year plan.

Who was part of the settlement discussions?

Customer representatives, including Consumer Advocate (CA), the Small Business Advocate (SBA), the Industrial Group (IG), the Berwick Electric Commission, Riverport Electric Light Commission, the Town of Mahone Bay, the Town of Antigonish, and Port Hawkesbury Paper (PHP).

What are you doing to help low-income customers?

We have designed and implemented several new initiatives to help customers in need based on input from low-income advocates—including our increased financial support of the HEAT Fund, expanding flexibility of our payment plans for customers to best support their situation and increased promotion of equal billing to ensure a predictable bill each month of the year. We encourage any customers struggling to pay their bill to call our Customer Care team. We are here to help.

How do power rates in Nova Scotia compare to neighbouring utilities in Atlantic Canada?

Across the country, other power utilities are also forecasting increased capital costs to support the needs of customers. In Atlantic Canada specifically:

  • NB Power’s residential rates increased by 12.7% in 2024 and increased by 9.7% on April 1 of this year.
  • The most recent increases in 2024 for Newfoundland Power and Newfoundland Hydro were 6.8% and 7%, respectively. Newfoundland Power rates increased by 7% on July 1, 2025.
  • Maritime Electric’s rate increase for residential customers in 2024 was 2.4% and will increase in 2026 by 2.7%.