Rate Design

The topic of rate design is an ongoing dialogue with NB Power, the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board (NBEUB) and various interested parties. Modernizing rate design is a gradual and managed process and is expected to occur over several years. Rate classification changes are about equity within and between customer classes. Customers could eventually be classified differently and billed using different rate designs than are used today, leading to lower bills for some and higher bills for others. When planning changes to rate structures, NB Power includes measures to make the changes gradual to reduce the impact on affected customers.

Following direction from the NBEUB, we are reviewing and updating how electricity rates are set in New Brunswick so they better reflect the cost of providing service to different customer groups.

This includes:

a proposal to place farms, places of worship, charitable organizations, and lodging premises that use higher amounts of electricity on business rates, while smaller users within these groups would remain on residential rates
a proposal for size-based classification of commercial and industrial customers
a proposal for the modernization of the Net Metering program
a proposal to eliminate the large industrial declining discount for new customers
the reasonableness of NB Power’s cost of service methodology

NB Power filed a Rate Design Application on April 30, 2026. It is referenced as Matter El-002-2026 and can be viewed on the NBEUB’s website by searching Matter EL-002-2026 and clicking on the Matter name to view the details.

The Rate Design Application covers a number of proposals for consideration by the NBEUB, including those above, and will not result in any immediate changes in electricity rates. If approved, changes would be introduced gradually over several years, beginning April 1, 2027, to reduce sudden bill impacts.

As with most matters heard by the NBEUB, NB Power’s Rate Design Application will be carried out through public proceedings. Customers, members of the public and representatives of groups are encouraged to participate in the process. Participation helps to ensure that the NBEUB is informed of the issues that are important to customers and that decisions are made in the public interest. Participation can be through formal intervener status in the proceeding, a written submission, or an oral presentation at a public forum – all subject to deadlines determined by the NBEUB.

NB Power welcomes comments and questions from customers. Please contact us via email at NBPowerRateDesign@nbpower.com or by calling 1 800 663 6272.