Halifax Water rates to rise 18.1 per cent in 2026, pending board approval

Halifax’s water utility says it has submitted another updated compliance filing to Nova Scotia’s regulatory board, adjusting rate increases for 2026.

In a statement on Friday afternoon, Halifax Water says its revised rates, if approved by the NSRAB, would see the average residential bill for water, wastewater and stormwater services increase by 12.1 per cent for January 2026 and again by 6 per cent in April.

The utility says it was told to make adjustments to calculations and formatting in its Dec. 23 filing to the regulatory board, and that has resulted in an additional 0.5 per cent to the April increase.

“We would like to apologize to our customers and to the board and thank them for their diligence and patience in this matter. Halifax Water is committed to being open and transparent,” said Kenda MacKenzie, General Manager and CEO of Halifax Water.

In December, the NSRAB said the initial 36 per cent increase the utility asked for represented “rate shock.” The board chose to approve a rate increase, but is requiring Halifax Water to recalculate, which is how it landed at 18.1 per cent.

Kevin Russell, executive director of industry group Rental Housing Providers Nova Scotia, says the hike is still more than six times the current rate of inflation. Those costs will be passed on to renters, who are already staring down increased power bills and property tax hikes, he said.

“It’s becoming clear that the biggest driver of costs right now for rental housing providers is the government, whether it’s taxes or utilities,” Russell said in an interview Friday.

Kevin Russell, executive director of industry group Rental Housing Providers Nova Scotia, says the hike is still more than six times the current rate of inflation. Those costs will be passed on to renters, who are already staring down increased power bills and property tax hikes, he said.

“It’s becoming clear that the biggest driver of costs right now for rental housing providers is the government, whether it’s taxes or utilities,” Russell said in an interview with The Canadian Press.

Halifax-based Killam Apartment REIT, the city’s biggest landlord, said in a board submission that it’s concerned with aspects of Halifax Water’s bookkeeping. CEO Philip Fraser’s letter says the city has collected $128 million in development charges on behalf of the utility in recent years, but that number is not included in Halifax Water’s financial statements.