Regulatory board approves Halifax Water rate hike

Nova Scotia’s regulatory and appeals board has approved a rate hike for Halifax’s water utility.

That means Halifax Water rates will increase 18.1 per cent in 2026 overall, which includes a 12.1 per cent increase effective Jan. 1 and another jump of 6 per cent on April 1.

The utility submitted those numbers to the board last week, after being told to recalculate its application. Late last year, the board rejected Halifax Water’s initial rate hike ask, which was close to 36 per cent for 2026.

In its approval order issued Wednesday, the regulator also directs the utility to work with the province of Nova Scotia on options for longer-term solutions to its debts.

Halifax Water is also directed to work with the municipality to determine whether Halifax will absorb some or all of the utility’s revenue shortfall to help limit future rate increases.

In a statement late last year, Halifax mayor Andy Fillmore expressed concern about that suggestion from the board, saying a full audit of Halifax Water would be needed before absorbing the utility’s shortfalls can be responsibly considered.