When we resumed billing, we provided an estimated bill. For many customers, we are now able to provide a bill based on actual usage through a physical meter read. An adjustment for the actual power used will be reflected on your latest bill. Details on the billing period and charges for usage in kilowatt hours are outlined on your statement. Your adjustment also accounts for taxes and the provincial energy rebate.

It’s easy to sign up for Equal Billing. Call our Customer Care team at 1-800-428-6230 to learn more.

In most cases, bills will be based on a similar ~60 day billing cycle that customers are used to seeing. There may be some exceptions. Please refer to your bill for more details.

Please know that an estimate is just that—an estimate—and it will be reconciled on your bill when your meter is read – either remotely or by a meter reader. If you are concerned about an estimated bill and have not had a meter read, you can take a photo of your meter display and send it to us. We’ll use this information to adjust your bill based on your actual usage. Submit a photo of your meter here >

At the top of your bill, there will be a note to confirm that your usage has been estimated for the billing period. Learn more about how to read your bill here >

If you want to create a new MyAccount profile and go paperless, please give us a call at 1-800-428-6230 to start the process.

All Billing Process and Meter Reading updates above remain the same for your rate, however it is important to note the following:

Customers on Equal Billing will continue to be billed their current monthly amount. The January review and update of equalized monthly payment amounts will not occur as usual. Our systems will be restored by the end of March 2026, and we will review your account by July once we have additional usage data to determine if your payment amount needs to be updated.

If your household electricity usage has changed over the past year (including installing new heating systems), you can request to have your monthly payment amount updated using our online form.

Meters are now being reconnected to our billing system. Completing this process will take time. As meters are reconnected, more customers will receive a bill based on actual usage. Your bill will continue to indicate whether it is estimated or has been read. If your bill is based on an actual meter read, this may have been done either physically by a meter reader or remotely.

We will update customers when all meters have been reconnected to our billing system and have committed to have this process complete by March 31, 2026. If you are concerned about an estimated bill and have not had a meter read, you can take a photo of your meter display and send it to us. We’ll use this information to adjust your bill based on your actual usage. Submit a photo of your meter here >

If you are concerned about an estimated bill and have not had a meter read, you can take a photo of your meter display and send it to us. We’ll use this information to adjust your bill based on your actual usage. Submit a photo of your meter here >

We are not applying late charges or penalties on any outstanding balances, and we will communicate with customers before reintroducing any late fees on unpaid amounts.

When we are able to retrieve your current energy use from your meter, your bill and account will be adjusted to reflect your accurate usage. Customers will never pay for power they do not use.

Meters are now being reconnected to our billing system. Completing this process will take time.  As meters are reconnected, more customers will receive a bill based on actual usage. Your bill will continue to indicate whether it is estimated or has been read. If your bill is based on an actual meter read, this may have been done either physically by a meter reader or remotely. We will update customers when all meters have been reconnected to our billing system and have committed to have this process complete by March 31, 2026.

The cost of fuel is included in the energy rate of your bill. Your first bill after this rate change will show some energy charges for electricity used at the old rate prior to February 18th, and at the new rate, after February 18th. The rest of your 2025 bills will have a single base charge and your new energy charge.   

Looking for more predictable energy bills? Why not consider the Equal Billing Program? Our Equal Billing plan can help you manage your budget by spreading the cost of your annual electricity use over 12 equal monthly payments. Visit our Equal Billing calculator 

If you can't pay your bill before it's due, you may be eligible to request payment arrangements. With our convenient self-serve options, it's easy to make this request without ever having to pick up a phone. Request payment arrangements through MyAccount

If you made a late payment, you could avoid a disruption to your electrical service by providing the details of your payment online. Report a payment through MyAccount

The cost of delivering energy efficiency programs that encourage cost savings for customers are collected through power bills. This is a requirement set out by the province. Learn more about Energy Efficiency Programs.

Additional rate changes are expected in early 2025. Once the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board finalizes a decision we will communicate the impacts to our customers. 

When you sign up for MyAccount you are automatically signed up to receive your bills electronically. If you need support registering please visit Create or Manage You Account.

You can call us or request an arrangement online through our Make A Payment Arrangement form. 

Visit our Customer Service page to find all the ways you can contact us. 

Our Equal Billing Plan can help you manage your budget by spreading the cost of your annual electricity use over 12 equal monthly payments. To learn if equal billing is right for you or to sign-up using our on-line form, visit Consider Equal Billing. 

Yes. Visit our Move Power form within MyAccount. Please give us 10 business days to move your connection, and please be advised that a security deposit may be required.

Some municipalities operate their own electric service. If you live in Antigonish, Berwick, Canso, Lunenburg, Mahone Bay or Riverport, please contact your local provider to request service. 

Yes. Visit your bank's website and select Nova Scotia Power as a payee.

More than 70% of Canadian homes and businesses currently use smart meter technology. Our supplier, Itron, has successfully installed more than 80 million CENTRON® meters in North America, including 20 million OpenWay® CENTRON meters without any safety issues. The smart meters installed in Nova Scotia are the latest generation meter in this line called the OpenWay® Riva CENTRON Meter.

Smart meters are tested in accordance with safety standards established by a number of industry standards bodies. Our meters meet or exceed all government regulations and safety standards set by Measurement Canada and Health Canada Safety Code 6.

Smart meters in Nova Scotia also meet Underwriters Laboratories safety standard 2735. This safety standard is a written document that outlines the process in which smart meters are tested to help mitigate risk, injury, or danger. Underwriters Laboratories is an internationally recognized standard-setting organization which combines extensive safety research, scientific expertise, and an uncompromising focus on quality. Our supplier was required to provide us with smart meters approved by Underwriters Laboratories. In October 2018, they received a notice of completion and authorization to apply the Underwriters Laboratories mark, indicating that our meters complied with their safety requirements.

No. Energy use, the weather, and the number of days between meter readings are factors that can increase bills. Like all meters, smart meters measure consumption, but do not affect energy use. Like analogue and digital meters, smart meters are regulated by Measurement Canada and undergo rigorous and regular quality testing to ensure power consumption calculations are accurate.

Learn more about Measurement Canada regulations:

• General information
• Laws and requirements
• Meter accuracy
• Questions and answers on electricity meters, including smart meters  

With more that 95% of homes and business in Nova Scotia now having smart meters – we continue to build the network and transition the meters to remote billing, meaning that in most cases in-person meter reads for billing purposes will no longer be required every two months.

We know some customers like to read their meter occasionally. Here’s how to read your smart meter:

• Smart meters cycle through several screens before they display the kilowatt hours (“kWh”) reading. These screens are normal.
• For residential customers, the screen that shows the kWh usage will appear with a code “d1” to the left. This screen also displays the kWh used.

Not sure if you have a smart meter? As pictured below, smart meters have a digital display, are branded with the name OpenWay® Riva, and in most cases have a blue label. 

Need help? Our Customer Care centre will be happy to walk you through the process. You can call them at 1.800.428.6230.

Your time-of-day rates will remain the same with a smart meter, plus you’ll have access to all the benefits of smart technology.

TOD customers with an Electric Thermal Storage (“ETS”) unit connected to their meter may require a timer be installed at the same time as their smart meter.

• If you require a timer - you will be contacted by an ETS contractor in your area who will book an appointment at a time that’s convenient for you and arrange to visit your property. It will take the electrician about an hour to install the timer. Once complete, the contractor will notify us, and we’ll schedule your meter upgrade. The upgrade takes less than 15 minutes to complete and you’ll  experience a momentary loss of power.
• If you do not require a timer - our technician will simply remove your current meter and replace it with a new smart meter. This takes less than 15 minutes to complete, and you’ll experience a momentary loss of power. No appointment needed.

The timer being installed is called the OMRON Digital Daily Time Switch (H5F).

Yes! You will require a bi-directional smart meter – one that collects energy use data going into both your premise, and the grid, while also retaining the ability to transmit this information to our data centre. 

All devices that use wireless communication produce radio frequency (“RF”) emissions, also referred to as “RF energy”. This includes everyday use items such as cellular phones, computers and wi-fi routers.

Health Canada’s Safety Code 6 sets the safe exposure limits for RF energy from wireless devices. The code reflects an ongoing review of published scientific studies related to safe human exposure to RF energy, including non-thermal effects. The OpenWay® Riva CENTRON meters installed in Nova Scotia adhere to Safety Code 6. In third-party testing conducted in October of 2020, a single smart meter installed on a detached residential home tested at 100x less than the safe exposure limit set by Health Canada’s Safety Code 6.

Since RF energy exposure levels in smart meters are far below Canadian and international safety limits, Health Canada does not require any precautionary measures to be taken. In cases where multiple smart meters are installed together, as in high-rise buildings, the total exposure levels from multiple smart meters are still far below Health Canada's RF energy exposure limits.

Smart meters transmit energy use information, in an encrypted format, over a private and secure wireless network to our data centre. Smart meters do not transmit personal information. Our smart meters adhere to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Interagency Report 7628 that sets guidelines for smart grid cybersecurity.

We take the privacy of customer information very seriously. We do not sell personal information and only share it with third parties in limited circumstances to provide services to customers.

The steps we take to protect customer information is outlined in our privacy policy.