BILL NO. 117
(as introduced)
1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
71 Elizabeth II, 2022
Private Member's Bill
Nova Scotia Power Ownership Act
Claudia Chender
Dartmouth South
First Reading: March 31, 2022
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
An Act to Study Bringing
Nova Scotia Power Incorporated
Back into Public Ownership
AND WHEREAS between 1972 and 1992 electricity was made available to Nova Scotians chiefly through one publicly owned utility, Nova Scotia Power Corporation;
AND WHEREAS in 1992 the Government of Nova Scotia effected the privatization of Nova Scotia Power Corporation through the Nova Scotia Power Privatization Act, the effect of which was to vest all of the assets of Nova Scotia Power Corporation in Nova Scotia Power Incorporated, a body corporate incorporated under the Companies Act;
AND WHEREAS in each year of private ownership since 1992 Nova Scotia Power Incorporated has generated profits of approximately $100 million, a built-in cost to customers now amounting to approximately $3 billion since privatization;
AND WHEREAS it is now opportune to examine the appropriate future model of ownership for electricity utilities operating in Nova Scotia;
THEREFORE be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:
1 This Act may be cited as the Nova Scotia Power Ownership Act.
2 In this Act,(a) "Emera" means Emera Incorporated;
(b) "leader of a recognized party" means a leader of a recognized party as defined in the House of Assembly Act;
(c) "Nova Scotia Power" means Nova Scotia Power Incorporated;
(d) "Task Force" means the Task Force appointed under this Act.
3 The Governor in Council, after consultation with each leader of a recognized party, the Chair of the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, and Emera, shall appoint by June 30, 2022, a Task Force, composed of up to six members, to study bringing Nova Scotia Power back into public ownership.
4 The Task Force shall(a) consider the terms of the 1992 privatization and determine whether an appropriate financial arrangement was made at the time;
(b) examine advantages and disadvantages of bringing back into public ownership the whole or any parts of Nova Scotia Power;
(c) advise on what financial models would be appropriate to bring back into public ownership the whole or any parts of Nova Scotia Power, including an appropriate price to be paid for shares or assets;
(d) bear in mind, in all of its work, current public policy regarding sustainability and climate change;
(e) include consideration of the appropriate model of ownership of the municipal electricity utilities and taxation arrangements of Nova Scotia Power so far as they affect all municipalities; and
(f) include consideration of possible future development of electricity generation through renewables, including offshore wind and wave energy, and tidal power.
5 The Task Force shall hold public hearings.
6 Nova Scotia Power and Emera shall co-operate fully with the Task Force, and make available to it all documents and the testimony of any employee or officer required by it.
7 (1) The Task Force shall report its findings to the Governor in Council by March 15, 2023.
(2) The Premier or another member of the Executive Council shall table the report in the House of Assembly within 15 days of its receipt by the Governor in Council or, where the House is not then sitting, file it with the Clerk of the House.
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2022 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created March 31, 2022. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
