BEC Rates

On July 15, 2026, the Berwick Electric Commission applied to the Nova Scotia Energy Board, for approval to amend its Schedule of Rates for Electric Supply and Services using its approved flow-through mechanism.

The Board issued a Decision and Order on July 29, 2026, approving the proposed rates, effective August 1, 2026, but directed the utility to file updated tariffs that included the approved rates.

The Berwick Electric Commission submitted the updated tariffs to the Board on August 4, 2026.

The Board approves the updated Schedule of Rates for Electric Supply and Services, attached to this order as Schedule “A”, effective August 1, 2026. The full board order can be found here FULL BOARD ORDER  click here

Rates charged by the Berwick Electric Commission, have remained comparably low for many years through a combination of tight management of operating costs, and the development of wind resources in collaboration with the Towns of Antigonish, and Mahone Bay. The Ellershouse Wind Farm, Factorydale Hydro Dam, and new Community Solar Garden supply 68% of the community’s energy. The remaining 32% of power is imported and impacted by serious escalations in fuel prices in the world markets.

Our collective work through AREA (Alternative Resource Energy Authority), owned by the Towns of Antigonish, Berwick and Mahone Bay, to secure and build renewable energy resources will help protect Berwick Electrical Commission customers from market rate increases in the future.

The Berwick Electric Commission cannot maintain its financial health and provide reliable service without adjusting rates to reflect the new reality of high market energy costs and future capital replacements. Local utility customers receive superior service through excellent response times and quicker turnarounds on electrical inspection requests.

The transition away from fossil fuels for heating and transportation, combined with our increasingly renewable energy supply, provides a pathway for stable customer rates and increased financial health for the Utility. The future is bright, but these next several years will be difficult as we remain exposed to volatile market prices.