Town News
TOWN HALL DELAYED OPENING TODAY
- Details
- Published: Monday, 28 July 2025 08:27
UPDATE - 10:57am
Water service has been restored. Town Hall will re-open at noon today.
Town Hall will open at noon today due to a water main leak on Cumberland Street.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
CUMBERLAND STREET WATER SERVICE DISRUPTION
- Details
- Published: Monday, 28 July 2025 08:06
Water has been turned off on Cumberland Street between Hopson Street and Duke Street due to a water leak. A crew is on the scene and an update on a timeline for service restoration should be known shortly.
Residents in the affected area might experience water discoloration or air in their lines once service has been restored. We suggest running a cold-water faucet into your bathtub or sink in case of any air discoloration until it runs normally.
BROAD ST PUBLIC BOAT LAUNCH LOAD LIMITS
- Details
- Published: Thursday, 24 July 2025 11:52
Public Works has posted new weight limits signage at the Broad St public boat launch for a maximum of 16,000 lbs per axle. Any construction equipment shall require Public Works permission prior to utilising the public boat launch.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: Electric Utility Rate Application
- Details
- Published: Monday, 21 July 2025 11:06
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: Electric Utility Rate Application
- To view the hearing, please visit - https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1835046872579816287
Details
Originally Published: Monday, 12 May 2025 08:06
As approved by Council on March 25, 2025, the Town of Lunenburg has submitted a rate application to the Nova Scotia Energy Board (formerly the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board) on behalf of the Lunenburg Electric Utility.
A public hearing for this application has been scheduled by the Board for July 22, 2025. As part of the application, the Town has requested that the rate increase for General Service customer classes be phased in, with a 15% increase pending approval, and the remaining 6% deferred.
See the official Nova Scotia Energy Board Public Hearing Notice (PDF) here: pdfNotice of Public Hearing(98 KB)
Here are the hearing details and how you can take part:
- Hearing starts: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 10:00 AM
(Continuing Wednesday, July 23, 2025, if necessary) - Hearing Location: Town of Lunenburg Council Chambers, 120 Townsend Street (Town Hall Back Entrance), Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
How to Participate in the Public Hearing
- Speak at the Hearing
If you would like to speak during the hearing, you must let the Board know by Monday, June 23, 2025. - Submit Written Comments
You can share your views in writing by sending a letter to the Clerk of the Board:
- Request Intervenor Status
If you wish to take a more active role—such as presenting evidence or asking questions—you can apply for formal standing as an Intervenor. This request must be submitted by Monday, April 28, 2025, and is subject to Board approval.
What Does This Mean for Customers?
Domestic (Household) Customers: Based on an average monthly usage of 837 kWh, households can expect their bills to increase by approximately $17.80 per month, from $152.17 to $169.97.
Even with the increase, Lunenburg’s proposed rates are still 2.7% lower than Nova Scotia Power Inc. (NSPI) rates for the same usage.
General Service (Business) Customers: The proposed 21% increase will be phased in to reduce financial pressure:
- 15% applied immediately upon Nova Scotia Energy Board approval.
- The remaining 6% will be recovered over a period determined by the Nova Scotia Energy Board.
These increases must be approved by the Nova Scotia Energy Board before they can take effect. If approved, the new rates are expected to take effect in the fall of 2025.
The Nova Scotia Energy Board is an independent, quasi-judicial body responsible for regulating utilities and ensuring that rates are fair, reasonable, and in the public interest. In this case, the Nova Scotia Energy Board will review the Town’s proposed rate increases to determine if they are justified and reasonable.
Why is This Increase Necessary?
This is the first General Rate increase proposed since 2013. The Town has managed to avoid a general increase as new capital expenditures have been low and relying on smaller adjustments related to power cost flow-throughs. However, rising costs and urgent infrastructure needs have made a rate increase unavoidable.
The proposed increase will help cover operational costs and fund essential capital investments aimed at improving grid reliability, expanding capacity, and modernizing the system to support future growth and meet climate resilience standards.
Council Highlights: July 15, 2025
- Details
- Published: Wednesday, 16 July 2025 08:00
The Council Highlights from the last meeting are available here: Council Highlights
Council Highlights are a concise digest of newsworthy decisions and issues from Town of Lunenburg Council meetings.
Bandstand Restoration to Begin Next Week
- Details
- Published: Friday, 11 July 2025 11:15
Please note that the restoration work on the Bandstand will begin the week of July 14th.
Traffic control measures will be in place for the course of the work. Motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians travelling though the area should obey signage and use caution, as the safety of both residents and workers is a top priority.
The walkway from Cumberland Street to Townsend Street closest to the bandstand will be closed for the duration of the project (as can be seen in the accompanying plan).
We appreciate your cooperation as we restore this important piece of Lunenburg’s heritage. If you have any questions, please contact Town Hall at 902-634-4410 ext 245.
