Saint John residents should prepare for potential changes to their electricity bills this coming spring. NB Power has officially filed two separate applications with the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board (NBEUB) aimed at stabilizing revenue and ensuring the reliability of the province’s power grid.
The filings, submitted on January 22, 2026, address two critical areas: the approval of significant capital work recently completed at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station and a request for an interim rate increase to take effect on April 1, 2026.
Major Repairs at Point Lepreau
One of the primary components of the filing concerns a “generator rewind” at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station (PLNGS), a facility vital to the energy supply of the Saint John region. This complex maintenance was performed during a planned outage between July and December 2025.
The work involved replacing the stator windings inside the main generator on the conventional side of the station. According to NB Power, this issue was identified during a 2024 maintenance outage, necessitating emergency temporary repairs at the time to keep the station online for the winter. The full rewind, now complete, is expected to strengthen long-term reliability.
Because the capital cost of this project exceeds $50 million, the Electricity Act requires NB Power to seek retroactive approval from the NBEUB. The utility states that these costs will be included in their annual financial statements.
Proposed Rate Increase for April 2026
The second filing is likely to have a more direct impact on monthly budgets in Saint John. NB Power has filed a motion for an interim order regarding its General Rate Application (GRA). The utility is asking for an interim rate increase of 4.75% across all rate classes, starting April 1, 2026.
For the average residential customer using 1,350 kWh per month, this increase translates to approximately $10.90 more per month. NB Power states that these funds are necessary for upgrading essential infrastructure and supporting the transition to clean energy solutions.
Why an Interim Order?
Typically, rate hearings are concluded before the start of the utility’s fiscal year on April 1. However, a scheduling conflict involving the Renewables Integration Grid Security (RIGS) Project has delayed the hearing for the General Rate Application.
To avoid revenue losses during this delay, NB Power is requesting the interim rate. If approved, this rate would remain in place until a final decision is made following the GRA hearing planned for March 2026. If the final approved rate ends up being lower than the interim rate, customers’ bills will be adjusted accordingly.
Lori Clark, President and CEO of NB Power, emphasized the utility’s commitment to reliability. “Our team is focused on doing everything we can to support New Brunswickers and provide them with the level of reliability and customer service they deserve,” Clark said. “We have to balance our current service delivery with future readiness, while at the same time responding to the challenges we’re facing as a utility.”
For more details on the filings, you can view the full update from NB Power’s official news release.
Frequently Asked Questions
When would the new rates take effect?
NB Power has requested an interim rate increase to begin on April 1, 2026.
How much will my bill go up?
The proposed increase is 4.75%. For an average home using 1,350 kWh/month, this is an increase of roughly $10.90 per month.
What happens if the EUB approves a lower rate later?
If the interim rate is accepted but the final decision after the March hearing sets a lower rate, NB Power will adjust customer bills to reflect the difference.
Why was the work done at Point Lepreau before approval?
The Electricity Act allows for retroactive approval in cases where immediate attention is required for safety and reliability. The generator rewind was deemed critical work identified during a previous outage.
President and CEO proclaims, support, srvuce and reliabilty for New Brunswickers? NB Power customers and the province of NB are in fact the ones who support NB Power, not the other way round? The President/CEO stating NB POWER goals of service and reliability need to be ammended and state clearly that the goal is Efficiency, Transparency, Reliability and Economical electricity fo residential and industrial customers is their mission and how they expect Government to measure their management and administration of NB POWER. As a province we have commited to producing our own electrical energy through NBPOWER, if we cant sell excess production at a break even or profit then we need to rethink how we access other supply sources, like Ontario, Quebec, and NewFoundland. We can still build and maintain our distribution grid , but not the actual production, sell Lepreau and Mactequac or decommision if they are no longer viable.