BILL NO. 210
(as introduced)
1st Session, 65th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
4 Charles III, 2026
Private Member's Public Bill
Public Utilities Act
(amended)
The Honourable Iain Rankin
Timberlea–Prospect
First Reading: February 26, 2026
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
Explanatory Note
This Bill amends the Public Utilities Act to require the Nova Scotia Energy Board to order an independent savings review of Nova Scotia Power Incorporated.
An Act to Amend Chapter 380
of the Revised Statutes, 1989,
the Public Utilities Act,
Respecting a Savings Review of
Nova Scotia Power Incorporated
Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:
1 Chapter 380 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Public Utilities Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 34A the following Section:
- 34B (1) Notwithstanding Section 34A, within thirty days of the coming into force of this Section, the Energy Board shall order an independent savings review of Nova Scotia Power Incorporated.
(2) The independent savings review ordered pursuant to subsection (1) may include any matter set out in subsection 34A(1) and must include an examination of
(a) the cost of service of Nova Scotia Power Incorporated, including cost drivers, cost of service calculation and opportunities to reduce costs borne by residential ratepayers;
(b) Nova Scotia Power Incorporated's response to the cybersecurity incident occurring in or about March 2025, including
- (i) preparedness, prevention and response measures,
(ii) expenditures incurred as a result of the incident,
(iii) management decision-making related to the incident, and
(iv) the prudence and reasonableness of any costs proposed to be recovered from ratepayers;
(c) Nova Scotia Power Incorporated's performance against any provincial standards related to reliability and service quality and operational performance standards, including the financial impacts of failures to meet those standards;
(d) the continued reliance of Nova Scotia Power Incorporated on coal-fired generation, including the cost implications, regulatory risks and opportunities for savings through fuel substitution, asset retirement or alternative generation; and
(e) investment in transmission, distribution and grid modernization, including whether delayed or insufficient investment has resulted in higher operating costs, reduced system reliability or increased long-term costs to ratepayers.
(3) The independent savings review must be conducted by a qualified third party with no current economic or other relationship with Nova Scotia Power Incorporated or any Nova Scotia Power Incorporated affiliate.
(4) An order made pursuant to subsection (1) may include such terms and conditions on the independent savings review as the Energy Board considers necessary or advisable, if such terms or conditions do not limit the scope set out in subsection (2).
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2026 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created February 26, 2026. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
