Province Will Intervene With Proposed Electricity Rate Hikes

ENERGY--Province Will Intervene With Proposed Electricity Rate Hikes

Nova Scotia Energy Minister Cecil Clarke said today, May 28, that the province will intervene in Nova Scotia Power's (NSPI) proposal for a rate increase.

NSPI has submitted a proposal to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (UARB) that would see residential electricity bills in the province increase on average by 8.6 per cent.

"The province will be an active intervener in the UARB's hearing process that reviews NSPI's proposed 2005 rate increase," said Mr. Clarke. "We will work to protect the best interests of all Nova Scotian electricity consumers."

The Department of Energy will review Nova Scotia Power's rate application, which was submitted to the Utility and Review Board today, to determine the appropriate course of action.

The province intervened before the UARB on Nova Scotia Power's last rate application in 2002, and has intervened in all subsequent UARB hearings related to electricity.