Accelerate Clean Power and Customer Choice

Summary#

• This bill updates Nova Scotia’s energy laws to speed up clean power, give customers more choice, and support offshore wind and other renewables.
• It creates a new Electricity Act, expands net‑metering rights for small generators, launches a community solar program, and opens paths for large buyers to get renewable power.
• It also sets rules for competitive procurement, data access for customers, and a pilot program for hydrogen.

Key changes

• Lets households and businesses install small renewable or storage systems (27 kW or less) “as of right,” and sell extra power to Nova Scotia Power (NS Power) at the same rate they pay, up to their annual use.
• Starts a community solar program so customers can subscribe to a shared solar garden and get bill credits.
• Allows licensed “retail suppliers” to sell renewable electricity to most NS Power customers; NS Power must still deliver power and cannot deny service to those customers.
• Enables wholesale customers (like municipal utilities and NS Power) to buy electricity from competitive suppliers, supported by open‑access transmission rules.
• Requires NS Power to provide standardized “Green Button” energy‑use data to customers and authorized third parties.
• Sets up processes to procure renewables and storage, including long‑term contracts, curtailment (shut‑off) compensation rules, and an independent procurement administrator.
• Supports offshore renewable projects and allows combining certain marine licences; enables the Minister to issue long‑term power purchase agreements (PPAs) for offshore renewables.
• Creates a Green Choice Program for big customers to buy renewable power and get renewable certificates; and a hydrogen innovation program to connect hydrogen facilities to the grid.

What it means for you#

• Households and small businesses

  • You can install solar panels or an energy storage device up to 27 kW without joining a special NS Power program or signing a contract.
  • NS Power must buy your extra power at your retail rate, but only up to the amount you use in a year. You won’t be paid for more than your annual usage.
  • NS Power cannot add special fees or charges that discourage you from installing renewable power or storage.
  • You can subscribe to a community solar garden and get bill credits for your share of the power it makes.
  • Most NS Power customers will be able to buy renewable power from a licensed retail supplier. NS Power will still deliver your power and handle network service.

• Renters and people who cannot install rooftop solar

  • You can take part in the community solar program through subscriptions and receive bill credits.
  • You may also choose a licensed retail supplier that sells renewable electricity.

• Large power users and public institutions

  • You can apply to the Green Choice Program to meet some or all of your electricity needs with renewable power under special billing. You will receive renewable energy certificates and avoid certain greenhouse‑gas compliance costs on that portion.
  • Wholesale customers will be able to buy power from competitive suppliers once open‑access tariffs are in place.

• Renewable energy developers

  • There is a clearer path to long‑term PPAs through competitive procurement and for offshore projects (up to 30‑year terms).
  • Curtailment compensation is defined: no payment for the first 5% of annual bid energy curtailed; payment after that unless the facility wasn’t generating or there was an emergency.
  • NS Power’s interconnection process will be reviewed to improve consistency and value for ratepayers. Hosting capacity maps must be published.
  • Holders of certain marine renewable licences can merge contiguous licences for the same project and get a new PPA (rate can stay the same or be decreased).

• Hydrogen producers

  • A new program will allow approved hydrogen facilities to connect to the grid, with standards for emissions and data reporting set by regulation.

• All NS Power customers

  • You will be able to access up to 24 months of your detailed energy‑use data (hourly or better where meters allow) and share it with third‑party apps or services you authorize.

• Municipal utilities

  • Your customers cannot buy from retail suppliers under this Act, but you may be involved as wholesale customers in competitive supply. Municipal utilities cannot own or subscribe to community solar gardens under this program.

• Timing

  • Some pieces start on dates set by government (for example, which body administers open‑access transmission). Program details, rates, and eligibility will be set by future regulations.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Expands customer choice: people can install solar or storage more easily, subscribe to community solar, or buy green power from licensed suppliers.
• Speeds up clean energy builds by clarifying procurement, enabling long‑term PPAs (including offshore wind), and improving interconnections.
• Protects fairness for non‑participants with rules for open access and cost responsibility, and with tiered pricing in the Green Choice Program.
• Improves transparency and innovation by giving customers standardized “Green Button” access to their energy data.
• Supports new industries and jobs through offshore renewables and a hydrogen innovation program.
• Clear curtailment rules reduce risk for developers, helping attract investment while setting limits to protect ratepayers.

Opponents' View#

• Bills could rise for customers who do not or cannot participate if costs of PPAs, programs, and new systems are passed through rates.
• Paying retail rates for excess rooftop solar may shift grid costs to other users and add pressure to manage the grid.
• The Minister has broad powers to issue or direct contracts with limited Board approval in some cases, raising oversight and transparency concerns.
• Community solar and retail supplier programs may be complex to administer, risking delays, confusion for customers, or uneven access.
• Implementing Green Button data and new tariffs may add administrative and IT costs; data sharing raises privacy and security worries.
• Curtailment compensation and open‑access changes could complicate system operations and add costs if not carefully managed.