Premier 'shocked' by Nova Scotia Power's proposal, plans to intervene during public hearings
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The NDP says the proposed rate will hurt Nova Scotians and comes at a time when many are struggling to put food on the table and pay rent.
“Considering the unreliability of the grid and the frequent power outages experienced by Nova Scotians, especially in stormy weather like we are expecting this weekend, asking people to pay 10 per cent more over three years is shocking,” said Claudia Chender, the NDP's natural resources and renewables spokesperson.
"They (NS Power/Emera) are a company worth tens of billions of dollars and the maintenance that we need, the basic maintenance isn't done."
Chender says Nova Scotia Power has no accountability to its customers under the current regulatory structure and that needs to change.
She points to frequent outages that impact customers and businesses.
Some companies, like Covered Bridge Chips, have made an effort to capitalize on what Chender says is a falling infrastructure and weak power grid.
"The whole popularity of storm chips, why do we have that?” said Chender. “We have that because we lose power all the time."
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