Today, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB) made its decision regarding Halifax Water’s General Rate Application, which was filed earlier this year. Halifax Water accepts this decision and will begin working on the compliance filing to finalize rates.
Based on this decision, it is estimated that rates for the average residential family will increase by approximately 3.6 percent in December 2022 and 3.6 percent in April 2023.
“I am pleased that the NSUARB is satisfied that the planning activities and studies that Halifax Water has completed since the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan update provide an adequate foundation for the capital costs estimates included in this rate application,” said Colleen Rollings, Chair, Halifax Water Board of Commissioners.
Halifax Water’s request was driven by increased operating and capital costs resulting from aging infrastructure, ongoing environmental compliance, and growth within the municipality. This will be the first increase in water rates since 2016 and the first increase in stormwater rates since 2017.
“Today’s decision helps ensure we can continue to provide reliable service to our customers and the environment. Even with the approval of the requested rate increases, the utility will still be operating at a deficit as inflationary pressures around items like fuel, chemical costs, and construction-related activities have continued to increase,” said Cathie O’Toole, General Manager of Halifax Water. “Our team works hard to provide reliable water, wastewater and stormwater service while controlling costs and maintaining affordable rates for our customers.”
Halifax Water is a municipal utility that operates on a break-even basis, and no profit component is built into the rates. A compliance filing is expected to be filed within the next three weeks.