NB Power is facing intense scrutiny as New Brunswick's Premier Susan Holt has ordered an independent audit of the utility company following widespread customer complaints about dramatically increased electricity bills. Many customers have reported bills as much as double what they were previously, leading to an outcry among residents and prompting government action to explore the reasons behind these sudden spikes.
Holt, addressing the media, stated, "We've been listening to New Brunswickers and we share your concerns about expensive power bills." Her announcement came after significant feedback from residents, with thousands expressing their frustrations over December bills, which reportedly surged by $200 to $500 for numerous households.
Representatives from both the Liberal and Progressive Conservative caucuses met with NB Power to discuss these troubling issues. These discussions took place on January 20, 2025, and were characterized by unanswered questions, as multiple legislative members recounted the volume of complaints coming from their constituents. MLA Margaret Johnson noted, "I had 65 complaints at bedtime last night, and then there were at least 15 more this morning when I woke up." Many residents voiced concerns about bills reflecting consumption patterns they could not explain, such as one resident who reported significant increases even though they rarely used power.
Energy Minister René Legacy echoed these sentiments, highlighting the seriousness of the complaints and the necessity for the audit. He emphasized the objective was to understand the factors contributing to these unexpected billing increases and pledged to provide findings to the legislature's public accounts committee by February 18, where committee members could publicly question the auditor.
NB Power has attempted to address these billing discrepancies by attributing them to several factors, including colder winter temperatures compared to the previous year and changes to billing cycles. The utility company's CEO, Lori Clark, mentioned, "For the most part we have not found anything out of the ordinary." She explained how December's cold weather caused higher electric consumption, stating, "When temperatures drop by one degree, energy consumption can increase as much as four percent." December was on average three degrees colder than the December prior, which many believe was the leading factor for higher bills.
Even with weather explanations, many consumers remain skeptical. Johnson pointed out anomalies, saying, "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 still getting these huge increases," questioning if all customers were fairly treated under the new smart meter system. These smart meters, now installed for nearly half of NB Power customers, allegedly measure energy consumption accurately. Clark defended their effectiveness, saying: "These are all federally regulated. They have to be reviewed by Measurement Canada before they're installed. Every six years they have to be audited again.”
Despite this assurance, some residents are still raising concerns about the accuracy of the new smart meters. Observing fluctuations between typical monthly kilowatt-hour usage and the sharp upticks seen after smart meter installations, one frustrated customer recounted her December experience, noting her power consumption surged to 2,300 kWh from 1,700 kWh with no significant lifestyle changes. Her words echo the sentiments of many others caught off-guard by these significant increases.
Premier Holt is not dismissing any potential concerns, stating, "Right now we’re going through an independent audit because we don’t want to preemptively rule anything out or rule anything in. We’ve got to get to the bottom of this and do this work.” She emphasized the importance of tackling these billing issues urgently, noting the concerns of her constituents should be met with prompt investigation and resolution.
To this end, Holt proposed meeting with NB Power officials and called for the utility’s presence at the legislature's public account committee next month to provide clarity on these pressing issues. The public outcry is compounded by the Liberal government’s past commitments to offer rebates on power bills, pledging to reduce energy costs for families across New Brunswick. Yet the recent revelations and complaints have overshadowed these promises, leaving many families burdened and frustrated.
While some blame the recent rate hike of 9.8% last spring for exacerbated monthly charges, others are more concerned about the billing process's transparency and accuracy. Holt’s government is working diligently to investigate these complaints thoroughly and has assured the public they will keep updating customers on the findings of the audit.
The upcoming report is eagerly anticipated not only for its impact on future billing practices but also as lawmakers seek to restore public faith and accountability within NB Power. Premier Holt concluded, "If there's something we can learn from this, it’s something we have to address urgently.”
The spotlight remains firmly on NB Power as customers await answers to their billing queries, hoping for much-needed clarity and justice amid their frustrations.