Halifax Water revises rate application again, proposes 18.1 per cent hike in 2026

Halifax Water has once again revised its proposed rate hike.

For the second time in less than three weeks, Halifax Water has submitted a revised proposal for a rate hike to the Nova Scotia Regulatory Appeals Board (NSRAB).

They are now seeking a total hike of 18.1 per cent in 2026, which is a 0.5 per cent spike in their first revision to the proposal they submitted on Dec. 23, 2025.

The rate hike, if approved, would include a 12.1 per cent increase for January and a six per cent increase for April. The previous revision had the same request for January and a 5.5 per cent increase for April.

“We received feedback from NSRAB staff about calculations and formatting in the Schedule of Rates and Regulations,” said Kendra MacKenzie, general manager and CEO of Halifax Water, in a news release. “Halifax Water has reviewed this feedback and made several adjustments, including a 0.5% addition to the rate increase effective April 1, 2026.

“We would like to apologize to our customers and to the Board and thank them for their diligence and patience in this matter. Halifax Water is committed to being open and transparent.”

Mayor Andy Fillmore said the proposed rate increase is “too high.”

“As I’ve been saying for months, any significant water rate increase during an affordability crisis amounts to a rate shock,” Fillmore said in an email. “I will continue advocating for ratepayers and look forward to the response from the provincial and municipal auditor generals on my requested audit of Halifax Water.”

Earlier in 2025, Halifax Water submitted a proposal that would have raised water and wastewater rates for residents by 15.8 per cent in January and by 17.1 per cent in April.

The NSRAB approved of the application in December, but requested adjustments for the revenue requirements in the application, which were expected to lower the overall rate increase.

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