Transmission and Distribution

Nova Scotia’s transmission and distribution system consists of 31,800km of power lines stretching across roughly 29,500 transmission towers, 500,000 distribution poles, and 190 substations to bring electricity from power plants to customers.

About 5,300 km of transmission lines operating at high-voltages from 69 KV to 345 KV bring electricity from generating stations to distribution substations throughout the province. Transmission lines often run along large steel or wooden towers, commonly seen along Nova Scotia’s highways.

Electricity carried by transmission lines is sent through distribution substations and transformers that step the electricity down to a lower voltage level that is safe for delivery to homes and businesses. 26,500 km of distribution lines then carry the electricity to localized areas and connect to individual meters on homes and businesses.

A 350 MW capacity transmission line connects Nova Scotia with New Brunswick, enabling limited importing and exporting of electricity with neighbouring jurisdictions. The Nova Scotia system operator may import electricity when it is needed and can be purchased at a lower price than it can be generated inside the province, or may export electricity when it can be sold at a price that lowers costs for customers inside Nova Scotia.