October 16, 2026
Government must help low income New Brunswickers afford electricity
FREDERICTON – In the wake of NB Power seeking to increase people’s power rates by 17.4 percent over the next three years, Green Party leader and MLA for Fredericton Lincoln David Coon is calling on the Holt government to create a New Brunswick Electricity Support Program to help low income New Brunswickers offset NB Power’s unprecedented rate increases.
“These unaffordable increases proposed by NB Power will increase the average annual power bill by $500 once they fully implemented,’ said Coon. “Its time for the government to step in and create a program targeted at low-income ratepayers, similar to the one the Ontario government implemented to help low income New Brunswickers offset these power rate increases.”
The Ontario Electricity Support Program reduces the cost of household electricity by applying a monthly credit directly to electricity bills. The amount of the credit is determined by household income and household size. Households with an after-tax income of $71,000 or less are eligible and the credits range from $45 to $113 per month.
“Low income New Brunswickers should not be forced to pay for past Liberal and Tory mistakes, or for their failure to hold NB Power management accountable for theirs,” added Coon. “New Brunswickers who are choosing between heating their home and putting food on the table need immediate solutions to help them make ends meet this winter.”
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