By Rick Conrad

Nova Scotia Power customers may see less of an increase on their electricity bills.

The Nova Scotia government says it wants to help extend the time period that ratepayers have to cover a portion of the utility’s fuel costs.

That would mean a rate increase of 1.1 per cent instead of the planned seven per cent for residential customers and 13 per cent for industrial users, according to a news release Monday.

“If we did not take action, Nova Scotia Power would seek another large power rate increase this year,” said Tory Rushton, minister of natural resources and renewables. 

“While we would prefer no increase at all, we are proposing a solution that would mean a considerably smaller increase of about 1.1 per cent instead.”

The amount ratepayers owe for fuel costs is included in the utility’s fuel adjustment mechanism. Each year, it files a proposal with the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to recover its fuel costs. The board sets power rates based on those costs.

The government would buy $117 million of Nova Scotia Power’s outstanding $395 million fuel adjustment cost. It would get it back from ratepayers through their power bills over a 10-year period.

The government said it sent its proposal to the review board on Monday.  

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Municipal Water customers in Queens will see compensation for a boil water advisory that lasted almost nine weeks. The Region of Queens applied to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (UARB) and was approved to provide a one-time 70 percent rate reduction to be applied to the current water bill. Municipal water customers had to boil their water after lightning struck the water treatment plant, damaging essential equipment on Aug 7. In their decision, the UARB says the boil-water advisory was reasonable and beyond the control of the water utility. The decision stated they saw no other way to ensure the safety of the drinking water. Mayor Darlene Norman says she is pleased with the review board’s decision. “We were given what we asked and also noted that we did what was expected to ensure consumers safety,” said Norman. Region of Queens estimates the approved one-time rate reduction will cost the utility $56,000 which will come from an unused water reserve fund initially intended to provide sediment removal. To hear the broadcast version of this story click play below. E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com

A relatively light agenda at the Oct 12 Region of Queens council meeting started out with preparations for winter.

Council awarded the tender to truck bulk road salt to the lone submission, VanDyk Excavation & Truckin’ for $78.76 per metric tonne.

Visitors to Queens Place will see a new ice resurfacer in the summer of 2024 as council agreed to purchase a new electric Zamboni at a cost of $179,975.  Funding is coming from the province through a Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage grant valued at $205,000. The balance of the funds will be used to install the charging unit and make any necessary modifications.

The region will also partner with the province to pave a 200-metre-long section of Oliver Street. Queens will pay $50,000, half the cost of the total $100,000 project with the province picking up the balance.

Council next agreed to make an application to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to provide a one-time reduction of the consumption rate for residents affected by the two-months-long boil water advisory. If approved, residents will see the 70 percent reduction on their January bill.

Council then issued a dangerous and unsightly order for a property at 9777 Highway 8 in Caledonia near the fire station. The owner now has 30 days to clean up the site or they will be responsible to pay costs to the municipality to complete the work which includes demolishing a makeshift outbuilding, removing debris, and levelling the property.

In the discussion portion of the meeting councillors asked staff to report back with solutions for illegal dumping at Grey Boxes in private roads in Labelle.

Staff were also asked to provide council with options for reducing homelessness in Queens.

The next council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday October 24 at 6:00pm in the Seaside Recreation Centre in Eagle Head.

To hear the broadcast of this story click play below.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com

The Region of Queens has lifted the boil water advisory for users of the water utility.

The boil-water advisory has been in place around the Liverpool area since the treatment station was struck by lightning Aug 9.

The municipality is now exploring how to compensate the affected users for the inconvenience.

A resident asked if the Region would be issuing a refund to help people offset the increased power costs of boiling water as well as account for money spent on bottled water during the public comment period of the September 12 council meeting,

Initially, Mayor Darlene Norman said the Region of Queens wouldn’t be providing a refund because the utility is its own legal entity and rates are set by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board. However, that stance seems to have softened at the Sep 26 council meeting.

Norman says the Region can’t simply give money back to users, they need permission from the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, the body responsible for regulating the water utility.

“Of course, there’s not going to be a perfect solution to any of this,” said Norman. “However, council decided that we are going to have staff request from the UARB a 70 percent reduction on the consumption rate.”

Norman says if the ask is approved then the reduction will be applied to the next bill.

“May not really indicate how much water people consumed during this period because this period crossed over two bills,” said Norman. “There’s, I believe, 23 days on the last bill that was just issued and the upcoming bill which goes out in late December, payable January, would have like, another 20 odd days on it.”

Throughout the boil-water advisory Cowie well was available to supply fresh, potable water to residents.

The boil water order was lifted just after 11:00am Thursday Oct 5 once the municipality confirmed that water quality production issues have been resolved, and the Water Utility is again meeting regulatory requirements.

To hear the broadcast of this story click play below.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com

Residents of Queens can expect their water rates to go up by 19 percent in the new year.

A water rate study presented at the last session of Region of Queens Council indicates water rates in the municipality are among the lowest in the province.

According to Region of Queens mayor Darlene Norman, most municipalities undertake a water rate study about every four years.

The study presented to council is the first to be done in Queens since 2002.

Norman says relying on data that is so out of date is costing the municipality.

“What I do know is that our utility is not bringing in enough revenue to match our expenses. So we are applying to the UARB for a slight increase in the base rate for the next three years,” said Norman.

If Nova Scotia’s utility and review board (UARB) approves the increase, users will be charged a base rate of $81 annually as well as a consumption charge of $1.21 per cubic metre beginning in 2022.

Norman says saving money on your water bill is simple.

“If people want to reduce their bill, they find ways to reduce their water consumption.”

The mayor says the Region needs to address issues with their water infrastructure as the study estimates half the treated water is being lost through leakage.

“Our water treatment plant may be new but our pipes in the ground are 1890,” said Norman. “Which is why, when people wonder why we’re always digging up streets and doing things, we’re finding leakages.”

Norman expects the Region will make their case before the utility and review board sometime in January.

That hearing will be open and any member of the public is welcome to speak on the proposed rate increase at that time.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.