The Town of Port Hawkesbury is waiting to hear back on a proposed rate increase for the Landrie Lake Water Utility.
Port Hawkesbury and the Municipality of Richmond County own the Landrie Lake Water Utility and hosted a public hearing on the proposed increase on May 20.
Port Hawkesbury Chief Financial Officer Brian Luciano explained the increase would affect industrial customers in the Point Tupper area, including NS Power, EverWind Terminals, Port Hawkesbury Paper, Point Tupper Industrial, and the Town of Port Hawke s bury Water utility.
Luciano noted there hasn’t been a water rate study done for the Landrie Lake utility since 2020 and no increase in the rate since 202 2, which is part of the reason for the increase. He also noted they will be bringing in another industrial customer, EverWind Fuels.
The ask for the rate increase was between 10.6 and 10.90 per cent but that could change based on what they hear back from the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board. The rate increase would come in over a three-year period.
When asked if this will affect the Port Hawkesbury Water Utility, Luciano said that is not known at this point, adding they will have to see what the rates become and how they affect water input costs. With that said, Luciano said they haven’t had a rate stud y done in a few years , adding a rate increase is something they will have to look at any way, independent of a study.
