On February 2, 2026, Eastward Energy filed our 2027 – 2029 General Rate Application (GRA) with the Nova Scotia Energy Board (NSEB). Eastward Energy’s focus for this Rate Application is the continued safe and reliable delivery of natural gas while maintaining competitive natural gas rates for our customers.
Eastward’s last Application to adjust our distribution rates was in 2023 and those rates are in effect from 2024-2026. Since the last GRA:
- We expanded our distribution system and have continued to increase our customer base.
- Nova Scotia has begun taking steps to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and we’re supporting the achievement of this goal by developing sustainable, resilient, low-carbon energy solutions.
- We began repayment of the RDA deferral with funds collected from the Recovery Rate; and
- The impacts of global geo-political events have driven higher inflation and rising energy prices.
In 2024, the NSEB approved a Recovery Rate on a sliding scale from $0-$1 per GJ to begin repayment of the Revenue Deficiency Account (RDA) deferral. The Recovery Rate has been applied to customer bills since March 1, 2025, and has remained at $1/GJ since then.
What’s staying the same for customers in this Application?
Several items are not proposed to change in this Application:
- Rate Classes: Eastward Energy introduced new rate classes in the 2023 GRA and these new rate classes are not proposed to change in this Application.
- Rate Structure: Eastward Energy introduced declining block rates for commercial customers in the 2023 GRA and this rate structure is not proposed to change in this Application.
What’s new for customers in this Application?
The key changes proposed in the Application that would directly impact our customers are:
- Rate Adjustments: The proposed new rates would result in an overall increase across all rate classes of 0.9% in 2027, 1.2% in 2028, and 1.4% in 2029. Detailed adjustments by rate class are explained below.
How will the proposed changes impact customers?
The rate adjustments Eastward Energy is proposing are on the “delivery” portion of a customer’s invoice only. On a customer invoice, the delivery fees include the Base Energy Charge (a variable fee charged for the delivery of natural gas) and the Fixed Monthly Customer Charge (a fixed fee). Adjustments are also proposed to the Recovery Rate Rider.
The cost of natural gas (Gas Cost Recovery Rate) is not regulated by the NSEB and is not covered in this Application. The cost of natural gas that customers consume is billed directly to customers – Eastward Energy does not earn any return on this.
Based on the new rates proposed in this Application:
- Residential Customer: rates would increase by 7% (an average of $7/month) in 2027, 8% in 2028 and 9% in 2027. These increases will help ensure residential customers’ rates are better aligned with the costs to serve them.
- Commercial Rates: rates for the General Service Class would increase by an average of 0% over the three-year period, with a slight shift towards higher fixed and lower variable costs each year.
- Industrial Rates : There are no changes proposed to rates for Rate Class 3 customers.
- Deferral Recovery Rate: Eastward proposed to maintain the mechanism to recover deferral costs through a flexible Rate Rider. The maximum amount of the flexible band is proposed to increase to $0 – $1.50 per GJ.
When will this happen?
Adjustments to distribution rates and rate classes for all customers are reviewed and approved by the NSEB through an open and transparent process. Any new rates approved by the NSEB would be effective January 1, 2027.
For more information, please review a copy of the 2027– 2029 General Rate Application Executive Summary. The full Application can be found on the Nova Scotia Energy Board website, under matter number M12691. (Link to Nova Scotia Energy and Regulatory Boards Tribunal | Nova Scotia Energy and Regulatory Boards Tribunal)