Time-Varying Pricing Rate Pilot Program for Business

Terms & Conditions

The Nova Scotia Power Time Varying Pricing Rate pilot (the “Pilot”) is open for enrolment for the winter season which begins on November 1. The Time Varying Pricing tariffs (TVP) being piloted are optional tariffs with the primary goal of the Pilot being to assess the ability of TVP to reduce system and customer costs by encouraging customers to reduce on-peak load. To learn more about the new rates click here and/or to view a copy of the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board ("NSUARB") approved rates and regulations, click here. Below is a summary of the key elements.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Pilot, customers must meet the following requirements:

  1. Be a business customer of Nova Scotia Power as a Small & Medium Business (Rate 10) or as a General Demand (Rate 11).
  2. Participants must have a fully activated smart meter installed on premises.
  3. A registered MyAccount is required to participate in the Critical Peak Pricing Rate Plan.
  4. A house meter and a minimum of 10 units is required to participate in the Multi-Unit Residential Building Time-of-Use tariff.

*Commercial net metering customers (such as solar and other self generation options) or customers on seasonal service are not eligible to participate.

Pilot Terms

The Pilot is being extended and will remain in effect until such time as Nova Scotia Power with NSUARB approval terminates the Pilot. Pilot participants will be notified in advance of any termination.

Current Pilot participants will continue in the program according to these terms and conditions, but retain the right to leave the Pilot, as further described below.

New eligible customers (i.e. those not currently enrolled in the Pilot) will be randomly selected to receive an email or bill insert as part of recruitment and will be added to the Pilot program on a first come, first served basis. The application deadline for the Pilot is December 31, 2024, or once enrollment targets are filled.

If the Pilot is transitioned into a standard offer tariff, all Pilot participants will be notified by Nova Scotia Power and given the opportunity to opt out within a set time period. If Pilot participants do not opt out, they will be automatically transitioned to the TVP standard offer tariff.

Customers can leave the Pilot and switch back to their current eligible rate at any time without penalty. At the end of the Pilot period, Nova Scotia Power will review the rate plans and may apply to the NSUARB to cancel or change the program. If a customer decides to move during the Pilot, participation at their current location would end and they would be required to fill out a new application at their new location.

Notifications 

Customers who have provided Nova Scotia Power with their email or mobile phone number will receive notifications from Nova Scotia Power during the Pilot that are designed to help them manage their energy use and costs. These notifications could include, but are not limited to:

  • Reminders of peak hours start times (mandatory for Critical Peak Rate Plan).
  • Tips for shifting energy use (i.e., high usage appliances).
  • Billing alerts.
  • Monthly energy use summaries.
  • Upcoming products and offers.

Nova Scotia Power does not make any representations or warranties or guarantee that a customer will achieve a certain level of bill savings in the Pilot program. It is up to the customer to shift energy use to off peak hours to achieve savings. Costs and savings will vary by business. Bill amounts may vary and are highly dependent on the actual usage patterns of the business. If a customer decides to leave the Pilot at any time and return to the standard offer rate, they will not be reimbursed for any costs incurred as a result of the Pilot rate.

Participants acknowledge that the Pilot program requires them to provide information to Nova Scotia Power (which may be considered personal information) as noted in the application. The information in this form is being collected by Nova Scotia Power for the purposes of administering the Pilot program, communicating with customers, and receiving feedback on the program. Nova Scotia Power takes the privacy of its customers very seriously and does not sell personal information and only shares it with third parties in limited circumstances to provide services to customers. For further information on the collection, use and disclosure of personal information specifically, please see NS Power's Privacy Policy.

Nova Scotia Power's Regulations as approved by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board continue to apply to customers participating in the Pilot program.