Innovation

We are on a journey to reduce our carbon footprint. Since 2005, we have reduced the use of coal from 55% to 33% and more than tripled the amount of renewable energy on the grid in Nova Scotia. This has reduced our carbon emissions by 46%. Learn more about our commitment as we work towards 80% renewable energy by 2030: Clean Energy.

A community solar garden is a cost-effective and approachable way for all Nova Scotians to access solar energy, without having to install their own panels. When customers subscribe to the community solar garden, they are helping generate more clean energy that gets distributed across the grid, and they benefit by saving money on energy costs over time. Explore Community Solar.

Through proactive plans and innovative technology, we are continuously inspecting, testing and improving our grid infrastructure. Each year, we invest approximately $180 million in new equipment, upgrades, refurbishments, and tree trimming across the province. Our weather is changing, and we are experiencing more extreme weather more often due to climate change. Providing safe, reliable electricity every day is our commitment. Dive into the details: Reliability.(nspower.ca)

Investing in innovative technology, like home battery systems, is key to modernizing our grid, helping to keep rates stable, and growing our use of renewables. The benefit to participating customers is enjoying instant backup power for basic home necessities in the event of an outage. We have been on the path to sharing in the benefits of this technology since 2018 with our Intelligent Feeder Project and in 2021, we expanded our investigation with Battery Storage Pilot, part of Smart Grid Nova Scotia.

In 2019, we started a multiyear project to upgrade 500,000 electric meters in Nova Scotia to smart meters — an important first step in modernizing our electrical grid to provide customers with more convenience, reliability, and control over their energy use. Find out more about the benefits of Smart Meters, including how they transform energy insights, improve response time, enable faster connections, and lower meter reading estimates.

With the adoption of smart meters and the roll out of MyEnergy Insights, customers can access their daily energy use information and energy savings tips. This puts you in control of how you use power and manage costs, all within your Nova Scotia Power MyAccount. MyEnergy Insights is a digital tool that analyzes your home or business’ energy use to provide billing insights and notifies you of higher-than-normal usage.

One of the many benefits of upgrading to smart meters is new and innovative solutions like time varying pricing that provide customers with more control over their energy use and costs. Through a limited pilot program in 2022/2023, we are examining how shifts in the energy use at various times throughout the day can benefit both customers and the grid. These rate plans provide opportunities for customers to save money on their power bill by reducing or shifting their energy use from peak hours when demand is high for electricity, to off-peak hours when demand is low. Get the details on our Residential Pilot Program.

Smart grids offer a future in which individual pieces of the electrical system — including smart devices and technology in customers’ homes and businesses — can communicate with one another, so that the entire electrical system works together to use energy more efficiently. This means lower overall costs for customers and a cleaner environment. Join the journey as we invest in our future, every day, with Smart Grid Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia Power's electric vehicle fast-charging network connects Nova Scotia end-to-end so EV drivers can travel through the province emissions free with ease since 2018. We are continuing to invest in the growing demand for EVs across the province and collaborating with our partners to ensure the charging infrastructure is adequate and reliable. Explore the route: EV Fast-Charging Network.

Electric Vehicles are one critical piece of our future smart grid. As EVs become more common, we want to learn how they can make a difference. Through Smart Grid Nova Scotia, we welcomed over 200 drivers into our EV Smart Charging Programs that help them save money while helping to operate the grid more efficiently and reliably. Learn more about our Electric Vehicle Smart Charging Pilot.

As our customers are increasingly choosing to drive electric, so are we. By deploying electric vehicles for our fleet, we are reducing operating costs. Wondering how your business can go electric? Meet our business solutions team and Electrify Your Fleet today.

Imagine a future where your vehicle can support your home or business through a power outage, or maybe even earn money for you while it is parked. In partnership with NSCC, Nova Scotia Power installed the first bi-directional charging station in Atlantic Canada to demonstrate and study the concept of using a vehicle battery to supply energy back to the grid and buildings they are connected to. This novel approach to energy use in electric vehicles is on the forefront of research in this realm and could lower the total cost of ownership in the transition to electric mobility. Bidirectional charging: A first in Atlantic Canada.

When you drive electric you significantly reduce your operating costs and carbon emissions. Through partnership with Clean Foundation, we make choosing electric easy for customers. See how Next Ride helps Nova Scotian’s take advantage of electrifying their transportation: What to know before buying an electric car - with Next Ride.

Through access to our White Rock Hydro System and expertise, Nova Scotia Power has contributed to the development of a novel fish tracking system with Innovsea. Part of the Ocean Aware Project from Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, we are building upon our work to protect fish habitat in our hydro systems. Learn more out our Ocean Environmental Initiatives.

The former thermal generating plant on Halifax’s waterfront is now our main office, known to our employees as “1H”, named after the original electrical substation that operated there. The building was the first in Atlantic Canada to achieve LEED Platinum certification and also houses The Discovery Centre and Junior Achievement Nova Scotia. More details on our LEED Environmental Initiatives.