Power rate debate continues
Posted Nov 19, 2014 07:20:14 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The debate continues to rage over power rates in the province, and what Nova Scotians’ bills will look like in January.
The province’s energy minister says a large savings created by dropping the efficiency tax will make room in the budget to pay off part of a fuel bill, and that our bills will not rise next year.
But consumer advocate John Merrick says that space is only a deferral, and will be brought back down the line — eventually adding to the price people pay for power.
Energy Minister Andrew Younger disagrees, saying while it may affect the cost of power, the price paid by consumers shouldn’t be affected.
“In some interviews, Mr. Merrick says that the efficiency bill is deferred and isn’t real, and then in other ones he says that it is real,” Younger said.
He added in the worst case scenario, electricity bills in January will be exactly the same as this year because of the fuel repayment.
But he hopes something can be worked out so Nova Scotians will see lower bills next year.
