Home / Business and Economy / Halifax Water eyes 16% rate hike over two years
Halifax Water eyes 16% rate hike over two years
30 Sep
Summary
- Halifax Water proposes two rate hikes totaling over 16 percent.
- Increases aim to cover salaries, chemicals, fuel, and infrastructure.
- A temporary rider could further increase residential water rates.
Halifax Water has submitted a general rate application to the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board, seeking approval for two significant rate increases. The first hike, scheduled for April 1, 2027, is expected to raise the average residential bill by 8.4 percent. A second increase, planned for April 1, 2028, would add another 8.2 percent.
These proposed rate adjustments are driven by several factors, including expected staff vacancies, inflation, depleted reserve funds, and workforce growth. Halifax Water officials state the increases are crucial for covering essential operational expenses such as salaries, chemicals, and fuel, as well as for addressing the needs of aging infrastructure.
The utility is also proposing a temporary deficit-elimination rate rider. This rider would represent an additional 0.7 percent increase in both 2027 and 2028, specifically to recover accumulated deficits over a maximum of five years. The board will review the application through its public process.
