The provincial government is opposed to an application for energy efficiency rate increases for residential electricity customers, filed today, Nov. 14, with the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.

The Department of Energy will write to the board to express its opposition to Efficiency Nova Scotia’s proposed increase of .135 cents per kilowatt hour.

Efficiency Nova Scotia estimates this cost to be about $11 per year for the average residential customer.

“While we recognize that energy efficiency efforts help reduce electricity costs for consumers, Nova Scotia residential rate payers should not have to bear these costs,” said Energy Minister Andrew Younger. “We will be writing to the board to express our displeasure with rate increases for residential customers.”

Mr. Younger said government remains fully committed to removing the efficiency tax from electricity bills.

“We are beginning our efforts to introduce more competition to the electricity market this winter and will be consulting broadly on the energy market, including energy efficiency programs, next year,” said Mr. Younger.

Source: Release