NB Power urges customers to be respectful after two ‘serious incidents’

NB Power is urging customers to be respectful after two “serious incidents” over the past week.

In a series of social media posts, the utility says NB Power team members were injured and physically intimidated while doing their job, adding the incidents were not isolated.

NB Power says employees are reporting an increase in physical threats and verbal assaults.

“We understand that some people are frustrated with us and the cost of electricity, but we will never tolerate any form of violence or aggression towards our employees,” reads one of the posts.

“No one should feel unsafe doing their job.”

The utility is urging customers to “express their concerns appropriately and respectfully” and asks customers to call 1-800-663-6272 with questions.

Premier speaks out

On March 14, Premier Susan Holt asked New Brunswickers to curb their anger against Crown corporation employees.

“We are hearing stories of people driving a NB Power truck or parking it in their yard and getting harassed, getting yelled at in parking lots, or getting treated poorly because they’re working for NB Power,” said Holt at the time.

“You want to express your frustrations, but let’s not take it out on the people, our neighbours, who are doing this work.”

Holt said her government is preparing to take a more hands-on approach at NB Power in the weeks to come, following reports from several residents of bills increasing by hundreds of dollars compared to a year ago.

“The utility is in an exceptionally challenged position, with a significant amount of debt that they are not making progress on, with maintenance deficit across the board, with assets that are underperforming and with a plan of rate increases for the foreseeable future that is more than New Brunswickers can bear,” said Holt.

Raising rates

NB Power raised residential rates by 9.7 per cent Tuesday – the same increase that was applied a year ago on April 1, 2024.

The Crown corporation applied for a two-year general rate application in December 2023 and the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board approved the changes last November.

NB Power president and CEO Lori Clark said on Tuesday more than 50 per cent of the rate increase is attributed to improving reliability of generating systems across the province, as well as vegetation management, but there are several other reasons.

“Our transmission system, our distribution system, our customer service that we’re providing as well as modernizing our grid to take into account things like population growth, the clean energy regulations that we’re working towards. Our aging infrastructure that we’re dealing with and climate change as well,” said Clark.

Clark said NB Power is committed to improving reliability for all New Brunswickers and it’s the utility’s responsibility to ensure reliable service is being provided to customers when they need the electricity.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Derek Haggett and Nick Moore.

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