N.B. Power customers question big increases on their monthly bills
Utility says weather and other drivers of consumption explain 'most' issues
Some New Brunswickers are convinced something is wonky with their latest bills from N.B. Power.
MLA Margaret Johnson told CBC News she received dozens of complaints in the past week from constituents upset that their power bills had doubled.
"I had 65 [complaints] at bedtime last night, and then there were at least 15 more this morning when I woke up," the Progressive Conservative told Information Morning Fredericton on Monday.
"What the heck is going on when you've got people talking about the fact that they've actually been away from home? I've got a a real estate agent who has an empty house that had a 1,000 kWh spike. How does that happen?"
PC
MLA and social development critic Margaret Johnson said many
constituents are convinced something must be wrong with their power
bills. (Radio-Canada)
Johnson said she checked with some of her legislature colleagues, and it seems that hundreds of people have been affected, most in the Upper St. John River Valley.
Bill Hogan, the MLA for Woodstock-Hartland, "told me of a lady who had called him who was beside herself because her increase was as much as her pension check," Johnson said.
"And how on earth was she ever going to be able to afford to, you know, pay her other bills when the power bill is going to take up everything?
"We're talking with people who are having increases between $200 and $500 in their bill," said Johnson, and kWh increases of up to 1,500.
It's an unwelcome surprise after the election promise of a 10 per cent rebate on power bills, said Johnson.
"They're just totally shell-shocked."
N.B. Power has also received many complaints about the jumps in power bills and has brought in extra resources to deal with the situation, as it does for big storms, said president and CEO Lori Clark.
N.B. Power CEO Lori Clark said many customers are surprised by how much power consumption increases when the temperature drops. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
"We take every customer complaint seriously and investigate with the customer one-on-one," Clark said. "For the most part we have not found anything out of the ordinary."
"The audits that we have done on our system would indicate that this is a consumption change in our customers."
A number of known factors have caused power bills to increase:
Cold weather hit for the first time since rates increased by 9.8 per cent last spring, December was three per cent colder year over year, and the billing period for some customers was as long as 33 days.
"Sometimes it's hard for customers to understand … when temperatures drop by one degree, energy consumption can increase as much as four per cent," said Clark.
There was also a one-time debit of $11 for some customers, to comply with the Energy and Utilities Board's order to keep distinct service charges for rural and urban customers.
Johnson was skeptical those factors could account for the differences customers are seeing.
"It doesn't make sense … because we've got people who run their homes with alternatives to electric energy … people who are running on wood heat … and people were running on oil still are getting these huge increases," Johnson said.
Even people on equalized billing plans are seeing increases of $100 a month, she said.
Tracy Wright of Blissfield said the energy consumption for her small house was up from 1,700 kWh to 2,300, and that was with fewer Christmas lights than last year and no additional appliances.
Wright said she compared average monthly temperatures and found it was indeed colder It was -4 on average as opposed to -1 the previous December.
But even in comparison to February 2024, when the average temperature was also -4, her household energy consumption last month was 500 kWh higher, she said.
Information Morning - Fredericton 15:03
Barb MacKinnon of Nasonworth, near Fredericton, said her December bill was "far too high to be accurate."
"The power usage at my house has been consistent over many years and nothing changed here in those months," said MacKinnon.
What these customers seem to have in common, according to Johnson, is the recent installation of smart meters.
"I just wonder if there's a glitch in the system," she said.
Clark is confident smart meters are not to blame.
"These are all federally regulated. They have to be reviewed by Measurement Canada before they're installed. … We actually audit and review them when we install them, and every six years they have to be audited again."
However, in some cases, initial investigations have not been able to explain customer complaints, she acknowledged.
"If it is something that we also think is very strange and not in the norm of what we're seeing with our other customers, we will dispatch resources to check the meter and we've done that on on a number of occasions," Clark said.
CBC has requested further information about the number of cases in question and what if any problems have been discovered.
If a customer wants a meter inspection that N.B. Power doesn't deem necessary, the fee is $65.
The opposition Progressive Conservatives are calling for an independent audit of smart meters and the data they collect.
"There needs to be a thorough examination of what's going on," Johnson said. "We need to do a really good deep dive into what is causing these spikes."
- Don't keep the change: N.B. Power preparing to refund all customers, including some owed pennies
- N.B. Power wins long fight to raise rates 19 per cent over 2 years
She would like the legislature's public accounts committee to look into the issue.
That would be up to the provincial government, Clark said, while noting the Crown corporation does its own audits on a regular basis.
About half of all N.B. Power customers now have smart meters. They can view their consumption on the utility's website and get customer support to understand what may be going on, she said.
They can also get notifications when consumption starts to increase, which might allow them to make adjustments to avoid a higher bill, she said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Information Morning Fredericton
"Audit ordered after soaring N.B. Power bills anger thousands of customers"
David Amos
Reply to David Amos
Yes
Reply to David Amos
Reply to Sam Carson
Wheareas you live in Ontario How could you suffer from NB Power's nonsense?
Fred Emmersen Turner
So inflation will be going up
David Amos
Reply to Fred Emmersen Turner
Of course
Jamie Smith
If we put an export tax on it watch the Americans whine!
David Amos
Reply to Jamie Smith
As well we should
Gregory Wulf
Reply to David Amos
You are in NB. What could you possibly tax that the Americans would notice?
David Amos
Reply to Gregory Wulf
Fish lumber electricity gasoline diesel and lumber etc
David Amos
Reply to Gregory Wulf
How is it that you did not know that we have a Nuke Plant?
Gregory Wulf
Reply to David Amos
Nope... New England has all of that. Check your privilege.
Mike Flanders
Reply to David Amos
What he doesn't know could fill a warehouse...
Marge Timmons
I thought only grocery stores gouge.....
Gerry Ford
Reply to Marge Timmons
Welder's do too.
Ralph Linwood
Reply to Gerry Ford
Welding isn't that hard...
David Amos
Reply to Marge Timmons
Surely you jest
Les Cooper
Everyone wanted to save the earth with green energy. How is it, no one thought the cost of electricity would go thru the roof. Trudeau forced provincs to due this. Alberta knew the green energy was not 100% proven and fought back.
Gerry Ford
Reply to Les Cooper
A lot of people knew and a lot of people got duped. And many think that one country can save the world. Only problem is the cost increase drives many right into the ground.
David Amos
Reply to Gerry Ford
You will own nothing and be happy
Denis van humbeck
Canada needs to ban the use of coal for electricity and ban the sale of coal to foreign countries.
Will delorme
Reply to Denis van humbeck
Why ?
Denis van humbeck
Reply to Will delorme
Pollution. That is why?
John Hoagie
Reply to Denis van humbeck
No because other countries can source their coal from someone else besides us so it's not pollution, what is your real reason.
Les Cooper
Reply to Denis van humbeck
And you wonder why electricity is thru the roof.
Denis van humbeck
Reply to John Hoagie
The reason is pollution and nothing else.
David Amos
Reply to Denis van humbeck
I disagree
John Hoagie
Reply to Denis van humbeck
You're saying for no reason then, what a good cause.
Denis van humbeck
Provinces should be charging the U.S.A more money than we pay to use our electricty
David Amos
Reply to Denis van humbeck
I agree
Denis van humbeck
Hopefully the world price of oil plummets and gasoline and diesel fuel prices plummet.
Will delorme
Reply to Denis van humbeck
Hopefully all crop prices plummet. Make food cheaper
Denis van humbeck
Reply to Will delorme
Oil prices would have to drop first to bring down food prices.
Will delorme
Reply to Denis van humbeck
Nope
Denis van humbeck
Reply to Will delorme
Yes because tilling the land cost are too high with high fuel prices and transport costs are too high because of the high fuel prices and high oil prices.
Denis van humbeck
Reply to Will delorme
Your buddy Trump wants cheap fuel and that would mean lower oil prices.
Will delorme
Reply to Denis van humbeck
Use oxen
David Amos
Reply to Denis van humbeck
Dream on
Denis van humbeck
Reply to David Amos
That is what Trump wants.
Frank Blacklock
Liberals are notorious for overcharging on everything.
Bob Leeson
Reply to Frank Blacklock
The "liberals" do not directly control the independent NBEUB in New Brunswick.
Frank Blacklock
Reply to Bob Leeson
Must just be a coincidence that the price of everything goes up drastically under Liberal politicians.
David Amos
Reply to Bob Leeson
Check history then ask Mr Herron about that
Denis van humbeck
Power rates will get even higher with more EV's,
Bob Leeson
Reply to Denis van humbeck
Why would they when provinces like Ontario give EV owners special low rates? 2.8 cents/kWh is as close to free as it gets.
Will delorme
Reply to Bob Leeson
Nothing like having others pay for one’s personal choices
Bob Leeson
Reply to Will delorme
It's electricity that would otherwise go to "heaven". Demand for electrical power is not constant throughout the day. The vast majority of EV owners charge at night while they sleep, at the time of the lowest demand.
Will delorme
Reply to Bob Leeson
Sure
Bob Leeson
Reply to Will delorme
Ontario generates the vast majority of its power via hydro and nuclear. It's not something they turn down like a instant volume control on a radio at 11:00 PM when most folks go to bed.
The reason why they gave us those ULO rates was to help stabilize the grid, as well as giving us annual cash bonuses for smart EV chargers that allow our hydro company to throttle power to adjust to grid demand. We are literally doing our hydro companies a service.
Denis van humbeck
Reply to Bob Leeson
Demand will get very at night.
Bob Leeson
Reply to Denis van humbeck
Not really. A central air conditioner uses as much electricity as my EV charger at 16 amps (similar 20 amp circuit).
Will delorme
Reply to Bob Leeson
I’m sure
David Amos
Reply to Bob Leeson
IMHO Owning an EV in rural NB is not wise particularly when it is 22 below
Bob Leeson
Reply to David Amos
I'm in rural Eastern Ontario, and my wife commutes 180 km/day, 5 days a week for work in her EV. It's been colder than -22 C lately here, especially in the morning when she leaves.
It seems New Brunswick has a warmer, more maritime climate than we do. Lucky!
Mike Barkman
All power rate increases were negotiated in 2024 while Higgy and team were in charge, that is a given. But if you leave your heat cranked when no ones around, stuff like this happens. Just wait till next month as the next few weeks is going to have -24°C lows.
Gregory Wulf
Reply to Mike Barkman
Not a problem with the wood stove.
Le Wier
Reply to Gregory Wulf
The article says people using wood stoves are seeing big increases to their bills as well
David Amos
Reply to Mike Barkman
Yup
Allan Marven
Power bill normal this month. Seems as if random users are picking up the bonus tab, as if nobody will notice.
David Amos
Reply to Allan Marven
Go Figure
Allan Marven
This is what happens when you leave the lights on!
Allan Marven
Reply to Allan Marven
Or when you pay an entire staff of a nuclear plant when it is offline for 6 months.
Gregory Wulf
Reply to Allan Marven
If the staff all move to Ontario, that plant will never come online again.
Allan Marven
Reply to Gregory Wulf
It has to go offline again first, which is imminent.
Gregory Wulf
Reply to Allan Marven
Honestly, I didn't know that NB had a nuclear power plant.
Allan Marven
Reply to Gregory Wulf
More like an Albatross.
Gregory Wulf
Reply to Allan Marven
While coal is more reliable, it's dirty.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Gregory Wulf
If you didn't now that then why make comments about it?
David Amos
Reply to Gregory Wulf
C'est Vrai
David Amos
Reply to Allan Marven
A half dead one
As my mom used to say, more excuses than carters has liver pills.
David Amos
Reply to Grace Nelson
Mother knows best
Dan Lee
hmmm i wonder if Irving complained........ohhh thats right they help pay his bill.......oops ....we help pay his bill
David Amos
Reply to Dan Lee
Bingo
Rob Lehtisaari
It appears that the problem of these huge UNEXPLAINABLE SPIKES IN ENERGY USE, have a common source shared.
The Smart Meter's installed.
In Saskatchewan the original roll out of Smart Meter's was Highly problematic, and was reversed, to work out the kinks, and then roll it out a year or more later.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskpower-to-remove-105-000-smart-meters-following-fires-1.2723046
Clearly the contract, and money for smart meters was already committed, and regardless of problems the Smart Meters were coming like it or not, even costing the province near $50 Million.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskpower-to-remove-105-000-smart-meters-following-fires-1.2723046
Sam Carson
Reply to Rob Lehtisaari
I have had a smart meter for years now. There was no spike in use.
Rob Lehtisaari
Reply to Sam Carson
Are you with NB Power ?
David Amos
Reply to Rob Lehtisaari
Well put
Allan Marven
I am looking at my bill, and the 10% rebate line, which is $5.42. My bill is $150 dollars. Something doesn't compute.
David Amos
Reply to Allan Marven
Ask KPMG why that is
Rob Lehtisaari
Reply to David Amos
Thank You, gotta run errands now, fight the good fight for We the People.
Allan Marven
Reply to David Amos
Do they sell calculators? If they do they are faulty.
If they do they are faulty.
David Amos
Reply to Rob Lehtisaari
Deja Vu?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/eub-hearings-nb-power-smart-meters-1.4529640
Reply to Rob Lehtisaari
No but a smart meter is a smart meter. I am in Ontario.
Rob Lehtisaari
Reply to Sam Carson
Egg's are being recalled, but the product, location, and source are entirely germane to the Salmonella risk.
As such, it's only speculative, but since the evidence shared is that NB Power customers that have a large unexplainable spike in use like 500, 1000, or 1500 KwH were "Smart Meter's" which likely points to a hardware, Software, or Manufacturing errors. If that is the source of the error.
Rob Lehtisaari
Reply to David Amos
It's a Money Grab for the "Deal" that the Province, or Power Companies have done to buy in bulk and not be left holding the bag, gone wrong.
From protection of loss(for investment), to gouging excuse of excess profits.
David Amos
Reply to Rob Lehtisaari
Who do you think was seated beside Roger Richard?
Reply to Alex Butt
We get the governments we deserve
Les Cooper
Funny that those who refused smart meters are not having a billing increase.
Samual Johnston
Reply to Les Cooper
David Amos
Reply to Les Cooper
had mine for 3 months now and total usage is down over last year expect a small increase this December which makes sense given the colder temp. Not sure if there is an over all issue but there sure are some people on my street who think it is a massive conspiracy to rip off the public.
Ralph Linwood
Reply to Samual Johnston
Tinfoil hats for everyone!
David Amos
Reply to Ralph Linwood
Is there a carbon tax on such hats?
Le Wier
According to NB Power NBers can avoid the peak during winter months by hanging laundry to dry and stop using the dryer.
Ralph Linwood
Reply to Le Wier
Good way to save energy and lengthen your clothing's life span.
Sam Carson
Reply to Le Wier
Years ago when they started this off peak hour stuff I tried a whole month of drying cloths after 7 p.m. I saved all of $2.00. Not worht it. Ontario.
Gerry Ford
Reply to Le Wier
When I grew up all we had was a clothes line, I can remember many winter days helping to bring in the frozen clothes, some were like planks. One thing really nice about a clothes line though was how the clothes smelled.
Le Wier
Reply to Sam Carson
I don’t know how it would help if using energy efficient washers and dryers
Le Wier
Reply to Gerry Ford
I always felt bad for my grandmothers. Their hands were so arthritic from that.
Le Wier
Reply to Ralph Linwood
I read a lot of Europeans use a heated drying rack. It maybe something to look into. I do hang up a fair bit of laundry in the basement, but I like my clothes dryer year round. No allergies, dust, or bird droppings on my fresh laundry.
David Amos
Reply to Le Wier
Me too
Sam Carson
Reply to Le Wier
Hydro is cheaper after certain times. I didn't find it worth the inconvience.
Sam Carson
Reply to Gerry Ford
We also had a line in the basement.
Gerry Ford
Reply to Sam Carson
Yes that too.
Le Wier
Reply to Sam Carson
I find it hard to believe the majority of NBers are putting a wash on at 6 am, and I doubt it would make a difference to put a wash on at 4 am in the winter. NB Power will have to prove to me the difference in energy consumption costs will be more than 25 cents if you know what I mean.
Sam Carson
Reply to Le Wier
I know what you mean. I did it just to see how much of a difference it made.
Ralph Linwood
Reply to Ralph Linwood
A heated rack would be better than a dryer because the heat then stays in your house. We usually hang dry our clothes outside in the summer and it smells great!
Le Wier
Reply to Ralph Linwood
The added moisture could be an issue in some homes may need to run a dehumidifier as well, so I don’t know if it would be any cheaper than running an energy efficient dryer.
Ralph Linwood
Reply to Le Wier
I'm on the prairies so in winter it's super dry. Drying laundry in the basement helps add a bit of humidity to the house.
Gerry Ford
Plug an extension cord into the neighbors house and just tuck it out of the way. That'll bring your power bill down.
Carly Wattson
Reply to Gerry Ford
Gerry for PM!!
Gerry Ford
Reply to Carly Wattson
And you can be my number one.
Carly Wattson
Reply to Gerry Ford
Make it so!
Gerry Ford
Reply to Carly Wattson
Engage.....
David Amos
Reply to Gerry Ford
You would fit in quite well
Ronald Miller
We have to endure all this mess in order for everyone to have a family doctor, btw, how are they making out on that?
David Amos
Reply to Ronald Miller
I have one
John Raymond
It's possible meters are being read incorrectly. I had that happen and then Hydro one in Ontario said it was my fault, they claimed it was my job to monitor them that they were doing their job correctly and that it was asking to much to expect them to read the meters correctly. I owed back money of 500.00 because they didn't do their job.
David Amos
Reply to John Raymond
Wow
scott crandall
I'm a statistics nerd, and read and log my power meter daily. My bill this month was up, and in line with the readings I was recording from my new "smart meter". My old meter was over 35 years old, and I believe had days when it would slow down and almost stop. This problem with old meters had been reported a year or 2 ago, I believe in CBC, and rang true with what I'd been seeing up until then and since. It may be that my new meter is recording my power use accurately for the first time in years.
BTW, in keeping with my stat nerd ways, I read and log min and max temperatures daily and have a continuous record of temperature readings going back 33 years. This past month, mid Dec to mid Jan, were warmer than my 33 year average.
Le Wier
Reply to scott crandall
Your stats for last month go with what Ryan Snodden said.
Steve Morningstar
Reply to scott crandall
They were warmer than your average but year over year it was 2 degrees colder in 2024 than2023.. That said I randomly record my own meter too a few times a week because I just like to know. I haven't been switched over yet but I'm curious if i'll see the same (old meter isn't exactly perfect so get a bit of a different power usage reading after switched.. with like you said... reading correctly first time in a while)
scott crandall
Reply to scott crandall
Thanks, Steve and LeWier. Just for interest sake, and for what it's worth, what I have is:
Dec 16-31 2024: -6.2 low, +0.9 high. Same time 2023: -2.2 and +3.2. Avg. over last 33 years same time period: -6.8 and -0.8.
Jan 1-15, 2025: -6.0 low, -1.6 high. Same time 2024: -6.8 and -0.6, with 33 yr av. -9.6 and -2.8.
David Amos
Reply to scott crandall
Interesting
Matt Steele
Reminds me of the infamous Brian Gallant property tax assessment scam ; many NB.ers had their property assessment jump substantially , and their properties had never even been re-assessed . It was just a tax grab that the Liberals at the time hoped that no one would notice .
Les Cooper
Reply to Matt Steele
That is happening again this year.
Chantal LeBouthi
Reply to Matt Steele
Agreed that gallant mess still exists never got fixed
K. Ride
Reply to Matt Steele
What does this have to do with energy consumption?
David Amos
Reply to Les Cooper
Yup
David Amos
Reply to Matt Steele
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose N'esy Pas?
Fred Estey
Get ready for another increase of 10% in April! 😜
Reply to Fred Estey
Le Wier
Reply to Fred Estey
Agreed
David Amos
Reply to Fred Estey
Everybody knows
Steve Morningstar
I hear this same story every year, temps drop and usage goes up people think something is wrong. (In order usage is Heat, Hot Water and Cooking). Now add in the fact that heat pumps have been pushed. They have a much bigger variance based on temperature. They are still more efficient then most heating sources but have higher usage swings in different temps. (meaning bigger differences month over month based on just a few degrees cooler) Just be glad you live in NB and not NS or PE. NS is over 30% more than NB per kwh..
Kyle Woodman
Only conservative ridings it seems. Strange.
Ronald Miller
Reply to Kyle Woodman
Liberal MLAs are not allowed to say anything, SANB rules.
Bobby Richards
Reply to Kyle Woodman
In their defense, they were muzzled for 6 years. laugh emoji
David Amos
Reply to Bobby Richards
Bingo
Le Wier
I thought for sure I heard Ryan Snodden say December wasn’t colder than normal in NB or January. NB Power always blames the higher bill for December on the weather, and holiday festivities. I remember one time a CEO said NBers were taking too long of showers. Hopefully with the days getting longer the bills will start to reflect it.
SarahRose Werner
Even an empty house has to be heated to at least freezing unless the pipes have been drained. The further the outside temperature is below freezing, the more that costs.
Still, a 1,000 kwh spike is a lot.
One thing I would suggest is that if you receive an unusually high power bill, the first thing is that you should immediately go and read your own meter. That happened to me once, and the reading on the meter was lower than the final reading on the bill. Saint John Energy said there might have been a transcription error and revised the bill.
scott crandall
Reply to SarahRose Werner
NB Power did this to me once in the 1990's, giving a reading that was 1000KwH too high. Their response was essentially: "Too bad, just pay it, it'll even out next month". Money was tight that month.
David Amos
Reply to scott crandall
Par for the course
Gary Webber
I think the remaining PC mlas should find out who approved NB power to install these smart meters and formally apologies to the people of New Brunswick.
As for NB Power saying it hasn't anything to do with the smart meters, come on, you install these and all of a sudden a spike in usage, and only with the customers that have the smart meters really.
David Amos
Reply to Gary Webber
They already know
Bobby Richards
It's quite amusing to see Higgs' disciples in opposition. Johnson says that hundreds of people have been affected, most in the Upper St. John River Valley.
Like her area is being targeted?
Hidden reply.
The avatar of ""
content deactivated
Ronald Miller
Reply to Bobby Richards
I did realize her riding comprised the entire Upper St. John River Valley, that is one large jurisdiction.
Bobby Richards
Reply to Ronald Miller
I see you're back from your ban. Good to see ya.
Ronald Miller
Reply to Bobby Richards
Can you update us on your party membership, that is always fascinating stuff.
Ronald Miller
Reply to Bobby Richards
I didn't know I was banned, it must have been one of those 5 minute bans.
Ronald Miller
Reply to Bobby Richards
An MLA stating members in her constituency are seeing massive power bill upticks, imagine.
Bobby Richards
Reply to Ronald Miller
I did that last week. You could try some vitamin B12.
David Amos
Reply to Bobby Richards
I remember
Dave Kovic
Is another carbon tax carve out on the horizon?
Ronald Miller
Another failure of the Holt government.
Le Wier
Reply to Ronald Miller
The 10% off was better than nothing, but it was hardly noticeable on such a high bill
David Amos
Reply to Le Wier
True
Andre Kornhauser
This cant be true, we have a story on this news site today, that tells us inflation is way down.
Andrew Clarkson
Reply to Andre Kornhauser
Wait until you get your notice of assessment!
David Amos
Reply to Andrew Clarkson
My neighbour told me should already have mine but I have not seen it yet
Greg Miller
Well my bill went up and the difference in weather does not explain it. Further, at my daughter's house, the NB Power rep came to the door and said he was there to "read the meter". A few minutes later, my daughter, sitting in the living room, hears a pounding on the outside wall. He goes to the door and finds that a "smart meter" is being installed !
Why the "stealth" and misrepresentation--what is it we don't know? NB Power used to be great company but now literally no one in my acquaintance trusts this entity.
David Amos
Reply to Greg Miller
You folks are not alone
Matt Adams
My bill was up and I was away for 2 weeks with the water off and heat pump running at 19 degrees. NB Power counts on spiking rates every December and blaming it on usage from extra cooking for the holidays, Xmas lights, etc. They have done this for years. They should have been sold to Quebec many years ago but common sense at the time did not prevail. Rather we decided to keep the corrupt, mismanaged mess of a crown corporation that is swimming in debt. Look at where we are now!
David Amos
Reply to Matt Adams
C'est la vie
Jimmy Cochrane
We're sitting on top of a gold mine of shale gas. Shame we can't extract it.
Corridor and SWN tried. They are long gone. What a shame.
Les Cooper
Reply to Jimmy Cochrane
We can't extract it because the same people complaining about bill increase are the same ones against tracking or any other industry that comes to NB
Jimmy Cochrane
Nov 15, 2024 > Dec. 15, 2024 - 1497 Kwh
Dec. 15, 2024 > Jan. 15, 2025 - 1877 Kwh
Difference 380 Kwh x .134 cents per Kwh = $50.92
Perfectly normal for this 1200 sqft bungalow with 18k mini split. The common denominator here is clearly these "smart" meters. People, call NB power and opt out off this sham. Get it in writing as I did. Olameter is the company skulking around the Province installing these. I also understand from many they are showing up even if you have opted out. If you've opted out and they show up, tell them to leave your property.
Anyone with a 500 khw consumption increase is not out of the question. My house is extremely well insulated R20 walls - R60 attic - thermal windows etc. and mine went up 380 kwh.
scott crandall
Reply to Jimmy Cochrane
Good info. You're right, you can refuse, but there will eventually be an added meter charge for a worker having to come to your house to read the meter monthly.
Further evidence of the contents of the big business rule book.
Rule 1 - We write the rules.
Rule 2 - We always win.
Rule 3 - To question our decisions, refer to rule 1&2.
David Amos
Reply to scott crandall
Well put
Jim Redmond
Solution: Stop using alternative forms of energy and focus on oil and gas as a fuel. Drill, baby, drill.
Hugh MacDonald
Reply to Jim Redmond
In so many words, that's what Trump said in his inaugural speech.
Jim Redmond
Reply to Hugh MacDonald
Exactly. I couldn't be more supportive of him.
Rob Lehtisaari
Reply to Jim Redmond
Ignore the factual reasons, and expoloit the ignorance for Oil & Gas...
(Sheepishly) Ooooh...kay.
Is it OK though !
Let's find the source of the problem, and fix it instead of empty slogans for O & G based on ignorance is what I propose.
David Amos
Reply to Rob Lehtisaari
You don't have to do a thing when apathy rules the day just sit back and enjoy the circus while waiting for a change in governmental mandates
Rob Lehtisaari
Reply to David Amos
Nigerian Ethics, brought to Alberta, and Saskatchewan by weak politicians when it comes to Oil & Gas.
We are discussing an issue that likely is a meter error, but Jim Redmond thinks that means Burn Baby Burn !
One Trick Pony & Dog Show's that are there for only one audience, Oil & Gas, even if the topic of the fora is not relevant in any way?!
Gerry Ford
Electricity seemed cheaper awhile back, after they get more people to use more for other things they start bumping it up. Get more EV's out there, more use of hydro, get people hooked on it and then turn up the price......
Jim Redmond
Reply to Gerry Ford
I'll never buy, ride in or even set eyes on an EV. I'm pleased that our President cancelled all government EV initiatives.
Les Cooper
Reply to Gerry Ford
Green energy is more expensive to maintain. How did Noone know this.
Marc Leger
Reply to Gerry Ford
Driving an EV is still way cheaper than driving a gas vehicle. The price of electricity would have to go up 500% for it to be close.
David Amos
Reply to Jim Redmond
"our President" ???
katiebernard
Wait for the climate crisis folks to shutter the O & G industry.
This increase will be a pittance .
David Amos
Reply to katiebernard
Thats not going to happen
Michael Hunt
Wondering if those in the north who voted red got big increases ?
claude bourgeois
Reply to Michael Hunt
Don't get your point. Most of the province voted red.
David Amos
Reply to claude bourgeois
I know 42 souls voted for me instead of Higgy or his buddies in the other political parties
Michel Pelletier
it's very easy to blame the temperature says NB power co. I just have to look at the 9.8% last year and another 9.8% this year, and one more is coming for 2026, blame NB powers
David Webb
Reply to Michel Pelletier
KWH is simply a measure of consumption. If one is only looking at the total bill and not the consumption and # of days the bill includes, no wonder people in the most functionally illiterate province in the country don't understand.
David Amos
Reply to David Webb
Oh My My
Updated
Spike in monthly N.B. Power bills shocks customers
Utility says weather and other drivers of consumption explain 'most' issues
Some New Brunswickers are convinced something is wonky with their latest bills from N.B. Power.
MLA Margaret Johnson told CBC News she received dozens of complaints in the past week from constituents upset that their power bills had doubled.
"I had 65 [complaints] at bedtime last night, and then there were at least 15 more this morning when I woke up," the Progressive Conservative told Information Morning Fredericton on Monday.
"What the heck is going on when you've got people talking about the fact that they've actually been away from home? I've got a a real estate agent who has an empty house that had a 1,000 kWh spike. How does that happen?"
PC
MLA and social development critic Margaret Johnson said many
constituents are convinced something must be wrong with their power
bills. (Radio-Canada)
Johnson said she checked with some of her legislature colleagues, and it seems that hundreds of people have been affected, most in the Upper St. John River Valley.
Bill Hogan, the MLA for Woodstock-Hartland, "told me of a lady who had called him who was beside herself because her increase was as much as her pension check," Johnson said.
"And how on earth was she ever going to be able to afford to, you know, pay her other bills when the power bill is going to take up everything?
"We're talking with people who are having increases between $200 and $500 in their bill," said Johnson, and kWh increases of up to 1,500.
It's an unwelcome surprise after the election promise of a 10 per cent rebate on power bills, said Johnson.
"They're just totally shell-shocked."
N.B. Power has also received many complaints about the jumps in power bills and has brought in extra resources to deal with the situation, as it does for big storms, said president and CEO Lori Clark.
N.B. Power CEO Lori Clark said many customers are surprised by how much power consumption increases when the temperature drops. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
"We take every customer complaint seriously and investigate with the customer one-on-one," Clark said. "For the most part we have not found anything out of the ordinary."
"The audits that we have done on our system would indicate that this is a consumption change in our customers."
Johnson was skeptical those factors could account for the differences customers are seeing.
"It doesn't make sense … because we've got people who run their homes with alternatives to electric energy … people who are running on wood heat … and people were running on oil still are getting these huge increases," Johnson said.
Even people on equalized billing plans are seeing increases of $100 a month, she said.
Tracy Wright of Blissfield said the energy consumption for her small house was up from 1,700 kWh to 2,300, and that was with fewer Christmas lights than last year and no additional appliances.
Wright said she compared average monthly temperatures and found it was indeed colder It was -4 on average as opposed to -1 the previous December.
But even in comparison to February 2024, when the average temperature was also -4, her household energy consumption last month was 500 kWh higher, she said.
"The power usage at my house has been consistent over many years and nothing changed here in those months," said MacKinnon.
What these customers seem to have in common, according to Johnson, is the recent installation of smart meters.
"I just wonder if there's a glitch in the system," she said.
Clark is confident smart meters are not to blame.
"These are all federally regulated. They have to be reviewed by Measurement Canada before they're installed. … We actually audit and review them when we install them, and every six years they have to be audited again."
However, in some cases, initial investigations have not been able to explain customer complaints, she acknowledged.
"If it is something that we also think is very strange and not in the norm of what we're seeing with our other customers, we will dispatch resources to check the meter and we've done that on on a number of occasions," Clark said.
CBC has requested further information about the number of cases in question and what if any problems have been discovered.
If a customer wants a meter inspection that N.B. Power doesn't deem necessary, the fee is $65.
- Don't keep the change: N.B. Power preparing to refund all customers, including some owed pennies
- N.B. Power wins long fight to raise rates 19 per cent over 2 years
She would like the legislature's public accounts committee to look into the issue.
That would be up to the provincial government, Clark said, while noting the Crown corporation does its own audits on a regular basis.
About half of all N.B. Power customers now have smart meters. They can view their consumption on the utility's website and get customer support to understand what may be going on, she said.
They can also get notifications when consumption starts to increase, which might allow them to make adjustments to avoid a higher bill, she said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Information Morning Fredericton
Audit ordered after soaring N.B. Power bills anger thousands of customers
Findings from 3rd-party review to be ready for public accounts committee in a month
N.B. Power will undergo an independent audit after thousands of customer complaints about December power bills, which for many were hundreds of dollars higher than expected.
Findings from the review will be ready for the legislature's public accounts committee on Feb. 18, so MLAs can ask the third-party auditor followup questions at its meeting Feb. 21.
Announcing the audit Tuesday afternoon, Premier Susan Holt said the government had been working for a week to understand why increases of $200 to $500 — or up to 1,500 kilowatt hours — had shown up on power bills.
"We've been listening to New Brunswickers and we share your concerns about expensive power bills," Holt told reporters.
"We heard from a large volume of New Brunswickers … with really significant spikes in power bills that were unexpected, that didn't go to trend and we want to get to the bottom of this."
She said her caucus met with N.B. Power representatives on Jan. 20 to get a better understanding of the issue, but "that conversation left us with more questions."
Energy Minister René Legacy said he had meetings with the N.B. Power board over the last 10 days, and the utility has agreed to an independent review.
Energy
Minister René Legacy said he wants the findings about the power bill
spike to be ready in time for a legislature committee's meeting on Feb.
21. (Isabelle Leger/CBC News )
"They also share the concern that if there are any significant concerns from New Brunswickers, whether their system is compromised, that is an issue for them too, so they want to get to the bottom of it," Legacy said.
Holt said the Liberal government isn't ruling anything out now, but this could simply have been a "perfect storm of pain for New Brunswickers."
Earlier in the day, Lori Clark, the president and CEO of the Crown corporation, said system audits suggested a change in consumption by N.B, Power's customers was the cause.
She said December was the first cold month since rates increased by 9.8 per cent last spring. December was also on average three degrees colder than the December before, and the billing cycle for some customers was as long as 33 days, she said.
A one-time debit of $11 was added for some customers last month, to comply with the Energy and Utilities Board's order to keep distinct service charges for rural and urban customers.
When asked if she would consider a freeze on power rates, Holt said her focus is figuring out what happened in this situation first.
"Right now we need to get to the bottom of this issue, because if there's an issue here that we can learn from it's something that we have to address urgently," she said.
Clarifications
- A previous version of this story stated that the audit findings would be made available for a meeting on Feb. 21. The date of the public accounts committee meeting is not yet confirmed and will be decided by the committee.Jan 21, 2025 8:37 PM AST
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New surcharges on your N.B. Power bill may last until 2031 — or longer
- 29 days ago
- News
- Duration 2:05
Edmundston mayor calls for action after 2nd day of power outages
Fire chief in northwestern N.B. city says reason for outages still isn't clear
Edmundston Mayor Eric Marquis is calling on N.B. Power to improve the reliability of its transmission network to the northwest after power outages on back-to-back days.
"We want, once and for all, to receive guarantees that the needed investments will be made in the very near future to avoid this type of situation," Marquis said during an update streamed live on the city's Facebook page.
"Our residents have been suffering for too many years because of the inaction of N.B. Power in our area."
Thousands of households in the area lost power Wednesday morning for the second straight day — and as temperatures hovered in the minus mid-20s.
Edmundston mayor Eric Marquis made the call for electricity infrastructure improvements following outages on back-to-back days. (CBC News)
Marquis said N.B. Power has implemented a temporary fix but is continuing to investigate what caused the dual outages. He added that he will meet soon with N.B. Power officials and Premier Susan Holt to discuss the infrastructure problems in the region.
Some community members are frustrated over the lack of answers from the utility.
"I really wish there was more answers," said Melissa Bougie, who spent most of Tuesday without electricity and spoke in an interview Wednesday after her home went dark again.
She was among 4,800 Edmundston-area customers who lost power the day after a nearly identical outage left 4,900 people without it for about eight hours.
Power was restored around 11 a.m. Wednesday, according to N.B. Power's outage map.
This generator was put to use in Edmundston during the Tuesday power outage. (CBC News)
N.B. Power said in a social media post that the outage is due to an issue on the same transmission line that caused Tuesday's outage.
"Our team is working on the issue immediately and will do everything possible to restore power as quickly as we can," the post reads.
"We understand how frustrating and challenging repeated outages can be, especially during these weather conditions, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience."
Jacques Doiron, the Edmundston fire chief, says the local utility isn't sure what caused the power outage. (CBC News)
N.B. Power supplies electricity to Edmundston Energy, one of three local utilities in New Brunswick.
CBC made interview requests to N.B. Power, but no one was made available.
"Our focus is on restoring power to all impacted customers," N.B. Power spokesperson Dominique Couture said in an email. "For that reason we won't be able to do an interview at this time."
The second outage came as the northwestern New Brunswick region continues to experience cold temperatures. According to Environment Canada the temperature as of 10 a.m. was -24 with a windchill of -28.
Bougie, who has multiple sclerosis, said she struggles to stay warm at the best of times.
"With my MS symptoms, I'm pretty cold compared to the average person," she said. "Right now, I'm bundled up pretty badly. While everybody else just has sweaters I have snow pants on.
"I get so cold I shiver while everybody is just fine."
Jacques Doiron, the Edmundston fire chief and EMO co-ordinator, told CBC News that the city hasn't had a real explanation for Tuesday's outage from the utility.
"It's exactly the same as yesterday, the concerns are exactly the same," Doiron said. "The people are more frustrated though, because now it's like the second time in two days that they don't have any electricity so we do understand how they're feeling.
"Unfortunately we are just affected by an N.B. Power problem. We're trying to get some answers also to see why it happened again, what's going on, why is it there again, but unfortunately we don't have those answers."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Here are the two articles from NFL in Radio-Canada.
It is interesting that the NFL electric utility decided last year not to use smart meters. They say that it is not for the benefit of the people! Although the public intervener wants NFL to have it! What a help he is.
The other one is about the Utility Board refusing NFL Power's rate increase. At the end of the article, the Board instruct NFL Power to produce a plan to implement smart meters. That topic is not included in the title: hidden in plain sight… They will say: « But we told you! »
If you do not find the equivalent in CBC, then the English population did not get the information.
Of course you should Roger they were your words
Thousands without power in Edmundston area during cold snap
Power for almost 5,000 customers went out around 7 a.m. AT
Around 4,900 residents in the New Brunswick city of Edmundston and the surrounding area were without electricity Tuesday, as the region deal with severe cold.
The outage is impacting N.B. Power customers, as well as clients of Energy Edmundston, the city's homegrown energy department.
"We don't know what happened, and N.B. Power doesn't know, either," said Jacques Doiron, the city's fire chief and emergency measures organization co-ordinator. "We don't know when it's going to come back."
Doiron said the problem is not with the city itself, "but we are affected by [NB Power's] line."
CBC News requested an interview with N.B. Power. Spokesperson Dominique Couture in an email said no one was available, and directed inquiries about when customers would have their power restored to its website.
As of 1 p.m. AT, most of those affected were estimated to be restored by mid-afternoon.
Jacques
Doiron, Edmundston's fire chief and emergency measures organization
co-ordinator, said the city's utility isn't sure what caused the power
outage. (CBC News)
Doiron says the power went out around 7:20 a.m. Tuesday morning. The outage is affecting residents of Edmundston, Lac Baker, Saint-François de Madawaska, Saint-Basile and St-Joseph-De-Madawaska.
Environment Canada listed a wind chill of –33 degrees in Edmundston Tuesday morning, climbing to –24 in the afternoon before dipping down to –36 overnight.
"Because the temperatures are really cold, we had to open up a warming centre for people to come and warm up," said Doiron.
The city-owned Pavillon sportif d'Edmundston, next to the University of Moncton's Edmundston campus, has been opened to allow those without electricity to warm up and charge their devices.
Doiron said the longer the outage goes on, the worse things will get in this cold weather.
"Pipes freezing, that is an issue," said Doiron, but warns that secondary heating systems such as barbecues or generators be kept outside for safety reasons.
"People can get very sick or die," said Doiron.
He asked those without power to turn off their breakers for power-hungry systems like baseboard heaters and large appliances, to ensure that when power is restored it can be rebooted with a lightened load and not risk it going out again immediately. Once the power is back, he said, people can again turn on their breakers.
"That's going to help us re-establish electricity in our region," said Doiron.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Opting out smart meter program could cost NB Power customers
Power customers in British Columbia, Quebec have faced fees for refusing the installation of smart meters
NB Power customers who do not want a smart meter installed on their home could be facing a stiff fee for that decision, but so far the utility is not saying how much it might be.
"It will be based on the principles of cost causation, but we have not gotten into the detail of what that fee would be at this point," said NB Power Senior Vice President of Operations Lori Clark at Energy and Utilities Board hearings on Friday.
In other jurisdictions that have already adopted smart meters, customers not wanting to participate have faced hundreds of dollars in extra charges.
Thousands of pages of evidence on a number of issues, including smart meters, have been submitted for the 12-day hearing.
In British Columbia, power customers are charged a meter reading fee of $32.40 per month if they refuse a smart meter, or $20 per month if they accept a smart meter but insist its radio transmitter be turned off. That's a cost of between $240 and $388.80 per year for customers to opt out.
In Quebec, smart meters were installed beginning in 2012. Customers who refused the devices were initially charged $98 to opt out plus a meter reading fee of $17 per month. That was eventually cut by Quebec's energy board in 2014 to a $15 refusal fee and a $5 per month meter reading surcharge.
NB Power said it may be a year or more before it settles on its own fee.
"The opt out policy will be developed and implemented as part of the roll out. It will be one of the last things we do," said Clark.
Customers need to be on board
NB Power is in front of the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board seeking permission to spend $122.7 million to install 350,000 smart meters province wide.
Smart
meter opponent Roger Richard, right, leads a group worried about human
health problems caused by long term exposure to the devices. (Robert Jones/CBC NEWS)
The meters are capable of transmitting consumption data of customers back to NB Power in real time, which the utility said will allow for a number of innovations in pricing and service.
The meters require near universal adoption by customers to maximize their financial benefit — like eliminating more than $20 million a year NB Power currently spends to read meters manually. The utility has said the switch will not succeed if too many customers opt out.
"We certainly wouldn't be looking at making an investment of this size without having the customer with us," said Clark.
On Thursday, Kent County resident Daniel LeBlanc, who along with Roger Richard, is opposing the introduction of smart meters for health reasons, predicted a cool reception for the technology in many parts of the province.
Haven't tested the waters
NB Power acknowledged it has not measured public opinion on adopting smart meters but is confident it can convince customers it is a good idea for them and the utility.
"People don't understand what the smart meter is," said Clark. "We need to educate our customers first to allow them to make an informed decision so that will be part of the roll out plan."
Clark noted that smart meters, helped by stiff opting out penalties, were eventually accepted by 98 per cent of customers in British Columbia and by 97.4 per cent of customers in Quebec.
"We will check and adjust along the way if there are issues with customer uptake," said Clark.
"This is very similar to what has been done in other jurisdictions and they haven't had those challenges."
Big firms forced to make changes in face of rising NB Power bills
AV Group, Irving Paper argue the high cost of electricity is making the province much less attractive
The shock households felt when they saw their December NB Power bills has also hit two of the province’s largest private employers.
AV Group Canada, which runs pulps mills in Nackawic, just west of Fredericton, and in Atholville near Campbellton in the province’s north, warns that NB Power’s rates are making it uncompetitive against other firms around the world.
Irving Paper says it will reduce operations at its Saint John mill again by half, to deal with the high electricity cost, for an undetermined period.
“The current situation regarding escalating power costs is not only concerning for residential customers, which increases affordability issues for our employees, but has serious consequences for our facilities,” said Mike Legere, spokesman for AV Group Canada, which produces cellulose tailored to manufacture fibre for use in the textile industry. The company employs 1,200, making it the dominant player in both small towns.
We are now at the stage of implementing more expensive solutions for diminishing returns.
Mike Legere
Energy makes up one-quarter of AV’s input costs at its pulp mills, second only to wood fibre, he said.
“Our ability to remain matched against our competitors, who are in low-cost countries like Brazil, South Africa and Chile, where energy costs are four times less than ours, is significantly challenged,” he said. “Finding efficiencies and reducing consumption is challenging as most of the low-hanging fruit has already been picked.
“NB Power, to their credit, has been and continues to be supportive of these efforts but we are now at the stage of implementing more expensive solutions for diminishing returns.
“We have reached a critical point where we need to establish greater pricing certainty.”
Facing public fury over high NB Power bills, Premier Susan Holt said last Tuesday that an independent audit would be conducted to find out what was behind the big jump in electricity prices in December.
NB Power has promised to make the results public when they come out, likely by mid-February.
We empathize with residential customers’ rate shock.
Mark Mosher
And Irving Paper said it too welcomed the third-party audit. Since last April, when rates went up, it has warned that New Brunswick’s industrial rates are having a negative impact on the provincial economy.
The company, which makes graphic paper for use in magazines, catalogues, newspapers and advertising flyers and employs 310 people at the mill, will once again shut down 50 per cent of its operations for an undefined period in response to what it called the unprecedented power rates.
“We empathize with residential customers’ rate shock,” said Mark Mosher, the vice president of Pulp & Paper, at J.D. Irving. “We have been experiencing the same for the last several years and have been raising the alarm for months.”
Mosher said as Canadian manufacturers face more and more significant headwinds, it is becoming increasingly difficult to shoulder the type of impact and remain competitive in an international market.
“New Brunswick will see a further 10 per cent increase in April 2025, making the situation even worse,” Mosher added.
NB Power said it sympathized with the firms.
“We understand that rising rates are challenging for customers,” said the utility’s spokeswoman Dominique Couture.
“As a cost-of-service utility, NB Power’s rates are based on the cost of providing electricity to our residential and industrial customers. We are committed to doing everything we can to reduce the rate pressure on customers, but we have a responsibility to maintain and invest in our system to ensure New Brunswickers have the power they need when they need it.”
As NB Power’s largest electricity consumer, Irving Paper has repeatedly asked that the utility review its electricity rates, which the firm says are 22 per cent higher than the Canadian average industrial rate and climbing.
Mosher said in the past, annual electrical costs for his company have averaged around $60 million.
“In 2024 that price tag surpassed $83 million and is expected to reach the $100-million mark in 2025 – even with significant downtime factored in.”
-
Join the Conversation
Comment by Lorne Henry.
Some of the lowest rates in Canada for years , and finally under Premier higgs NB Power was allowed to raise the rates all the while the Liberals whined about rates when they were amont the cheapest in Canada . Under the liberals they'll cave to the complainers , the mills will shut down and move elsewhere , and NB will lose thousands of jobs . Unemployment will rise , taxes will increase to support the added thousands on EI , deficits and debt will double , and we'll all be the worse for it . Welcome to the world of the Liberals .
Comment by Jim Thebeau.
Remember, Irving burns wood to produce electricity that it sells to the utility for market price. Then it gets to buy it back at a subsidized rate. I received more for a truckload of pulpwood 30 yrs ago than I do today. Electricity rates for NB rate payers are still some of the lowest in our country. Check out the rates in our de-regulated Provinces. In Alberta they get 2 bills, one for consumption and another for transmission, by 2 separate companies. The rates are comparable this year, but spiked in 2023 to double the current rate. Their rates don't include the transmission bills for each utility, gas and electricity, which can equal or surpass the consumption amount.
Comment by Celly O.
I don't understand all the moaning. NB Power is - literally - bankrupt. It's debt is crushing. With lengthy outages of Point Lepreau the cost of generating electricity goes up and upper. Rate increases are the most obvious way to address the biggest issue. Politics have gotten NB Power where it's at. For all of us, NB Power needs a viable way forward and out of this financial mess. The moaning about the high bills in December have triggered an independent review. It looks like the Premier is taking concerns seriously and is acting. I would guess the review will conclude that a.) ~13% rate increase in 2024; b.) five additional days in the billing cycle (DEC 2024 compared to 2023); c.) lower temperatures; d.) the lack of 10% rebate as that only kicks in for the JAN 2025 billing cycle; are combining for the increase seen. Unfortunate? Maybe. But entirely predictable. Who thought bills would stay the same or drop with massive increases?
Comment by Marcel Belanger.
NB Power is already subsidizing these mills to the tune of millions off their power bills every year. We can thank Higgs for that.
Especially the Irving mills which are franchisees of a Bermuda based company that brings all their profits to Bermuda via franchise fees.
Those franchise fees are all expenses to the NB Mills and reduces their income taxes almost to zero.
Also they claim the mills make no profit which is pure deception.
They need to show how their power bills are affecting their bottom line, just saying it does not make it so.
Reply by Susan ODonnell.
Agreed. We need more transparency by these privately-owned companies that do not share their financial info and then make claims that they need more public subsidies.
Reply by Celly O.
Are you claiming that ~20% higher energy costs do not impact a company's bottom line? 🤪
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