N.S. energy board changes surcharge on gas, diesel pump prices amid investigation

Nova Scotia gas and diesel prices are changing amid an investigation into the clean fuel adjuster.

The cost of gasoline and diesel at the pump will be different this week as the Nova Scotia Energy Board has changed a surcharge on prices amid a larger investigation.

The board said it issued an interim order on the clean fuel adjuster, which is a regulated surcharge on the pump price of gasoline and diesel. The adjuster allows gasoline and diesel suppliers to recover the costs they incur from the Clean Fuel Regulations, which aim to reduce the amount of carbon in fuel.

The change takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday.

“It will remain in effect until the Board completes a full investigation into its process for calculating the clean fuel adjustor and issues a further order,” a news release from the energy board reads.

Prior to the change, the clean fuel adjuster added 9.04 cents per litre to the price of gasoline and 10.07 cents per litre to the price of diesel.

The board says this week’s price setting will add 3.2 cents per litre more for the price of gasoline and 3.5 cents per litre more to the price of diesel through the adjuster.

“The amount may vary each week depending on the market for clean fuel compliance costs,” the board says.

The board notes the Canadian Fuels Association asked them to investigate if the current methodology for the clean fuel adjuster is just and reasonable on June 22. The board previously reviewed its process for the adjuster in 2025.

“In its application, the association submitted that the current amount of the adjustor is no longer reflective of the costs gas and diesel suppliers face to comply with the Clean Fuel Regulations,” the release reads. “The Board caps the amount of the adjustor based on a maximum credit price to protect consumers.

“It is satisfied that a change to the methodology is needed to better reflect current costs while a full investigation is completed. A prolonged disconnect between the amount of the adjustor and actual costs can lead to a shortage of gas or diesel in Nova Scotia if suppliers ultimately decide not to sell their product.”

The board says it will hire a consultant to prepare a preliminary report on the adjuster and then will issue a hearing order to examine the methodology used to calculate the adjuster.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page