Nova ScotiaThe Nova Scotia Liberal Party is calling on the governing Progressive Conservatives to order an independent review of the province’s largest electric utility.Iain Rankin says a public review could help rebuild confidence in a utility under scrutinyTaryn Grant · CBC News · Posted: Oct 23, 2025 11:57 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesInterim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette and Liberal MLA Iain Rankin speak at a news conference in Halifax on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Taryn Grant/CBC)The Nova Scotia Liberal Party is calling on the governing Progressive Conservatives to order an independent review of the province’s largest electric utility.Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette on Thursday cited a long list of reasons Nova Scotia Power needs to come under the microscope, including power rate increases, frequent power outages, failures to meet performance standards and this year’s cybersecurity breach.“The premier has said he is disappointed, but disappointment isn’t enough. Nova Scotians deserve action,” Mombourquette said at a news conference.Liberal MLA Iain Rankin said the government should use a provision in the Public Utilities Act to require the Nova Scotia Energy Board to conduct what the legislation calls an “independent savings review” of Nova Scotia Power.According to the legislation, such a review would assess the utility’s operations, fiscal management and value for money. The act also allows for the board to broaden the scope if it sees fit.Rankin said he would like to see cybersecurity and the transition to renewable energy included as well.Rankin said he expects a review would have a “modest” cost and could lead to more affordable electricity and greater transparency and public confidence in the utility. “To be clear, there is no one single solution or one megaproject that will fix these structural problems,” Rankin said. “There are concrete steps, though, that can be taken, and a comprehensive independent review is the best way to identify them.”Mombourquette said ordering a review should be among Premier Tim Houston’s first actions as energy minister — a role he appointed himself to earlier this week.“It’s clear that he wants control that comes with holding the energy file, but he also needs to take responsibility when things go wrong,” Mombourquette said.He said a similar review in New Brunswick provides a model that Nova Scotia could use.In April, the Liberal New Brunswick government ordered a review of N.B. Power, giving a three-member independent panel one year to study the Crown corporation, consult with the public and recommend a course of action for the debt-laden utility.MORE TOP STORIES ABOUT THE AUTHORTaryn Grant covers daily news for CBC Nova Scotia, with a particular interest in housing and homelessness, education, and health care. You can email her with tips and feedback at taryn.grant@cbc.ca
Liberals call for independent review of Nova Scotia Power
