NDP leader calls out Houston government as power rate hikes go into effect
Posted May 4, 2026 10:38:56 AM.
Last Updated May 5, 2026 04:40:24 AM.
Nova Scotia’s official opposition is urging Premier Tim Houston to take action now that the latest hike to power rates is in effect.
Nova Scotia Power’s latest increase to residential rates took effect on Friday, after being approved earlier by the province’s energy board. That means Nova Scotians are paying 3.1 per cent more on their residential power bills, with another 3.9 per cent increase coming on January 1, 2027.
The NDP leader for Nova Scotia says those bills should be the top priority for Premier Houston, who also acts as the province’s Energy Minister.
“The cost of living continues to be the biggest issue for Nova Scotians, but we have a government that is not acting that way,” says Claudia Chender.
“We have a premier who missed half our legislative session because he was in Texas or Calgary or Toronto or wherever trying to drum up interest in his own pet projects, and what people here at home want is to be able to afford the life that they want in the province that they love.”
Since writing a letter to Houston on Wednesday, Chender says she’s heard nothing in return from the premier about her insistence that he meet with the Affordable Energy Coalition to work on affordability measures to help lower power bills.
On Friday, Premier Tim Houston issued a statement, noting that he did not agree with the rate increase and that “there are no shortcuts that lower your power rates.”
The statement went on to say that “the only real option is to work to provide Ratepayers choice so they are not always stuck with NS Power. That’s exactly what we are doing. From the very real Mersey River Wind Project, to the prospect of using our own, cheaper natural gas, to working with the federal government on major projects and putting the legislative framework in place to support real competition.”
“We’ve seen the premier put out a statement essentially saying what he’s been saying throughout this whole rate application, which is that his hands are tied, and the point we make in that letter is that that is not true,” notes Chender. “The premier has lots of power, pardon the pun, over how much people pay on energy bills, and the time to use that is now.”
Chender adds that the coalition’s plan is sitting on Houston’s desk, noting that the report contains several items that could help Nova Scotians withstand the rate hikes, including an arrears management program proposal that could assist Nova Scotia Power customers if they run into trouble paying their bills.
“We have an Energy Minister now who frankly seems disinterested in how much people are paying for power,” says Chender.
The Affordable Energy Coalition is a non-profit advocate targeting energy poverty through improved efficiency programs and bill relief.
