Houston tables bill ordering review of how Nova Scotia Power is regulated

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeAtlantic CanadaNewsNova ScotiaHalifax Houston tables bill ordering review of how Nova Scotia Power is regulated Utility's current cost-of-service model has been around for over a century Author of the article: By Ally Bowes Published Sep 09, 2026 Last updated 1 hour ago 3 minute read Premier Tim Houston said the proposed bill comes at the right time, with many changes to the province's energy in the works. PHOTO BY RYAN TAPLIN /The Chronicle Herald Article content The province has tabled a bill requiring the Nova Scotia Energy Board to evaluate a new way to regulate Nova Scotia Power, with the hope it will increase affordability and reliability. Article content In a bill briefing Wednesday, Peter Craig, director of electricity for the Department of Energy, said the legislation is being put forward with the intention to have the board independently review a performance-based model for the utility. Article content Article content Article content “Performance-based regulation is a different regulatory approach, a more modern one,” Craig said. “(The) primary characteristic is tying a utility’s earnings to the performance of that same utility.”  Article content He said that could mean looking at the utility’s reliability, customer service, clean energy efforts and more.   Article content “Kind of anything that can be measured, quantified and codified into the regulation.”  Article content Under that system, the utility could face financial consequences for under-performing in those areas but also could get a reward for meeting or going beyond targets. Article content According to documents accompanying the bill, the goal with a performance-based system is to have a utility focus on what affects customers the most. Article content The current cost-of-service model and timeline for report Article content The current cost-of-service model, according to Craig, has been around for over a century. He said that under that model, the utility’s earnings are tied to mainly capital investments, a model that has become outdated. Article content Article content “It’s important to periodically review other more modern instruments,” Craig said. “Things have changed quite dramatically in the utility sector. . . . There might be a better way to do this and get more value for customers.” Article content The legislation requires the board to…