‘Water is essential’: Public campaign aims to stop Halifax Water’s proposed rate hike

A new campaign is opposing a rate hike by Halifax Water.

A group has launched a public campaign in opposition of a significant proposed rate hike by Halifax Water.

In May, Halifax Water said it’s necessary to increase average residential bills over the next two fiscal years to address its “significant operating deficits.”

The utility submitted a general rate application to the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board (NSRAB). If approved, average residential bills would increase by 16.2 per cent in 2025-2026 and by 17.6 per cent in 2026-2027.

In real terms, the average residential bill would increase by $148.01 in 2025-2026, and then by $186.56 in 2026-2027.

Rental Housing Providers Nova Scotia is sponsoring a campaign called Stop The Water Hike that urges residents to sign up and send a message to the NSRAB and city hall. They are also encouraging Halifax Water customers to use #StopTheHike on social media and share how the rate increase will impact them.

“This campaign is about prioritizing affordable water rates for everyday people,” said Kevin Russell, executive director of Rental Housing Providers Nova Scotia, in a news release.

“We are urging decision makers to put the livelihoods of people in our community ahead of needless harmful water rate increases. The ripple effects of a staggering 36.6% water rate increase are clear: higher utility bills, increasing unaffordability and rising costs for families, seniors, renters, homeowners, small businesses and vital organizations.”

Halifax Water says Rental Housing Providers Nova Scotia is one of eight groups that have filed for intervenor status with the NSRAB.

“Halifax Water is also aware of the online campaign and respects RHPNS’s advocacy for its member landlords,” the utility said in an email. “As a municipally owned water utility, Halifax Water operates its services cost-neutrally and is essentially not-for-profit. This rate application has been driven by many factors beyond the utility’s control.

“However, these must be addressed to ensure that Halifax Water can continue to supply and safeguard sustainable, high-quality water services for the people of Halifax.”

While Rental Housing Providers Nova Scotia says the proposed rate hike amounts to an increase of 36.6 per cent by its own calculations, Halifax Water says the rate increase would be 34 per cent.

The NSRAB is accepting public feedback on the proposed rate hike until Sept. 2.

“Water is essential. It’s not a luxury. But water is only available through a monopoly called Halifax Water that is owned by Halifax Regional Municipality,” added Russell. “Higher water rates will drive up the cost of everything so it’s important for everyone to speak out against this 36.6% rate hike.”

There are eight intervener applications before the NSRAB, which includes Russel’s group, Oland Brewery, the province and the City of Halifax.

“This is too much at a time when people are having trouble meeting their financial obligations, you know, the people are, households are tightening their belts,” Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore told CTV News on May 5.

Halifax Water notes it intentionally suppressed rate increases during and coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic by tapping into its reserves and accumulated surpluses.

The last rate increase, which was 3.6 per cent, happened in 2023.

The public hearing begins Sept. 15.

-With files from CTV Atlantic’s Sean Mott and Callum Smith

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