Standards & Codes

NERC Reliability Standards in Nova Scotia  

As set out in the Public Utilities Act (Nova Scotia), the Nova Scotia Energy Board (NSEB), formerly the Utility and Review Board (UARB), exercises general supervision over electric utilities operating as public utilities within the province of Nova Scotia, including Nova Scotia Power.

Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the UARB and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) dated December 22, 2006, NERC recognizes the NSEB’s regulatory authority over electrical utilities operating in Nova Scotia, and the NSEB in turn recognizes the role that NERC has with respect to the North America Bulk Power System. The MOU sets out the mutual expectations of the NSEB and NERC with respect to the application and enforcement of reliability standards established by NERC within the province of Nova Scotia.

On May 11, 2010, Nova Scotia Power, NERC, and Northeast Power Coordinating Council, Inc. (NPCC) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding which sets out the mutual understandings of the parties in relation to the approval and implementation of mandatory NERC Reliability Standards and NPCC Regional Reliability Criteria in Nova Scotia.

NERC Mandatory Standards Subject to Enforcement in Nova Scotia

• NERC Mandatory Standards Subject to Enforcement in NS (PDF from the NSEB Website, Updated September 20, 2024)

North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) 

• Reliability Standards (NERC Website)

Northeast Power Coordinating Council, Inc. (NPCC)

• Regional Criteria (NPCC Website)

Bulk Electricity System

In its Fourth Quarter 2012 Reliability Standards filing with the UARB, NERC proposed modifications to the definition of Bulk Electric System (BES) in the Glossary of Terms. This definition was approved by the UARB on March 13, 2017. Nova Scotia Power has developed a Nova Scotia-specific process for Exceptions to the Bulk Electricity System which was approved by the UARB on April 6, 2017. The NSEB process used for accepting the Bulk Electricity System Definition and approving the Nova Scotia Exception Procedure can be found on the NSEB website Matters and Evidence page, at https://uarb.novascotia.ca/fmi/webd/UARB15 under Matter Number M06930.

• Nova Scotia Exception Procedure (PDF)