Legislation to improve electricity efficiency and remove the efficiency fee from power bills takes effect Thursday, Jan. 1.

Last spring, government introduced a provincial energy efficiency plan to save energy, lower costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also introduced a new model for energy efficiency to ensure investments are more competitive, affordable and accountable.

Amendments to the Public Utilities Act included a new energy efficiency and conservation section that removed the efficiency tax, required Nova Scotia Power to purchase cost-effective energy efficiency. It also gave the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board regulatory oversight of efficiency programs to determine affordability for ratepayers.

Efficiency Nova Scotia will be granted a 10-year franchise to deliver efficiency programs. Nova Scotia Power shareholders will also contribute $37 million over the next 10 years to upgrade all low-income electrically heated homes in the province. This investment will be made at no cost to Nova Scotia Power customers.

For more information visit www.novascotia.ca/energy/ .

Source: Release