Halifax Water rejects compromise to reduce rate shock
HALIFAX – Municipally owned Halifax Water has slammed the door on a compromise solution to bring down its 36.6% rate application going forward to the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board.
Instead of letting Halifax Water increase water bills by 36.6% by April 1, 2026, Rental Housing Providers Nova Scotia (RHPNS) last week proposed a settlement agreement framework. The settlement agreement would have allowed for annual 5% increases by Halifax Water between 2026 and 2031. When presented with the settlement agreement framework at a meeting last week, Halifax Water refused to consider it. The deadline for a settlement agreement was Tuesday, September 9.
“It is disappointing that Halifax Water is so hell bent on making their customers pay such a punishing increase,” said Kevin Russell, Executive Director of RHPNS. “Their customers have spoken loudly and clearly that they can’t afford this spike in water bills. Our settlement agreement would have allowed Halifax Water to get more money from their customers, but it would have spread the impact out over a five-year period. While many customers can’t afford any increase, we thought our proposed settlement agreement would be a reasonable compromise.”
More than 2,200 Halifax Regional Municipality residents have contacted the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board through the “Stop the Water Hike” campaign launched by RHPNS.
Russell noted that while Consumer Advocate David Roberts also refused last week to help negotiate a settlement agreement to bring down Halifax Water’s proposed rate hike, Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore did write the Consumer Advocate to urge a settlement agreement.
“Halifax Water is owned by Halifax Regional Municipality. Its board of commissioners is 100% appointed by Halifax Regional Council, with 4 out of 7 being Halifax Regional Councillors,” said Russell. “If the Consumer Advocate won’t help customers fight Halifax Water’s rate hike, we appreciate any and all help Mayor Fillmore can provide and we hope Halifax Regional Council joins him to help keep water affordable for the people of Halifax Regional Municipality.”
On Monday, Halifax Water issued a social media post confirming that the average water bill increase will be more than 36.6%. The post said that the average water bill was $228 every three months (or $912 per year) and that under Halifax Water’s proposed increased, the average water bill by April 1, 2026, would be $312 every three months (or $1248 per year). This represents an increase of 36.8% by April 1, 2026.
“Thousands of Halifax Water customers have spoken out to the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board that they can’t afford to pay this water hike,” added Russell. “If Halifax Water won’t listen, won’t negotiate and won’t compromise, we’re hopeful that the regulator takes a hard line and puts affordability first for Halifax Water customers.”