Halifax Water seeks lower rate hike in updated application

Halifax’s water utility has submitted its updated rate application following a decision last week from the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board.

In its ruling last week, the board declined Halifax Water’s ask to include “deficit elimination” as part of 2026 rate hikes, and told the utility to recalculate its initial ask for a roughly 35 per cent rate increase.

The updated submission, released on Tuesday, shows Halifax Water is now seeking a 12.1 per cent increase in January 2026 and a 5.5 per cent increase in April 2026.

“Our priority is to ensure that Halifax Water continues to provide safe, reliable services while operating as a not-for-profit utility and minimizing the impact on our customers. By following the Board’s direction and using scenario two from our original application, we have removed the deficit elimination and other costs from rates,” Kenda MacKenzie, general manager and CEO of Halifax Water, said. “By taking these meaningful steps, we are easing the financial burden on households.”

The utility says it has removed the $27.2 million dollars it had included that was required to eliminate the deficit from rates, while also removing some $19 million in additional costs.

“As a next step, Halifax Water will follow the NSRAB’s direction to hold discussions with our owner (HRM) and explore ways to eliminate the $27.2 million deficit over a more extended period,” a release from the utility states, “thereby easing the cost to customers.”