Power Rates: UARB Sides With Electric Co-op

It's decision that will save members of the province's municipal electric co-op millions in unnecessary charges. Nova Scotia Power attempted to apply a $30 million dollar cost recovery charge to keep the five municipal utilities locked into their power grid. However, the Utility and Review Board rejected the request in a ruling handed down yesterday in Halifax. Members of the co-op have been working for the past seven years to secure a cheaper source of power and were caught off guard by NSP's request. The UARB decision means the co-op can proceed with its negotiations with an outside energy producer in an effort to find cheaper power for their residents. The Municipal Electric Co-op is made of independent utilities in the town's of Mahone Bay, Lunenburg, Riverport, Berwick and Antigonish.