Fredericton residents have questions about high power bills, panel has few answers

FREDERICTON – Randy Dickinson of Fredericton had a list of questions for a three-member team at a public meeting on the future of the New Brunswick’s debt-laden electric utility.

High on his list was a question about affordability.

“I’m going to start off mentioning the smart meters,” he said, sporting a black baseball cap with the phrase “Elbows Up” and a Maple Leaf embroidered in white and red on it.

“When we had our meter installed in our house last winter the next month, our bill jumped tremendously. My wife and I live alone. We have lived in the home for about 15 years. It’s well insulated, well constructed. We didn’t have any change in activity. … We don’t have kids running up the power bill. And even though we factored in the rate increase that had taken place around that time, our bill was almost double.”

New Brunswick Power began installing smart meters on Nov. 1, 2023, saying the gadgets have a greater capacity to measure demand.

Panel member Duncan Hawthorne, an expert on utilities, said he’s heard the same complaint about the meters at every public meeting so far. 

“I haven’t had a good answer from the company on that,” he said.

Dickinson was among a few dozen people gathered in the auditorium of the Hugh John Flemming Forestry Centre in Fredericton on Friday to air their concerns to the panel. A number of them shared Dickinson’s concerns about rising rates that have increased more than 20 per cent in two years.

Premier Susan Holt has said the status quo at NB Power is unacceptable since the utility is drowning in $5-billion debt and raising its rates.

Her government gave the panel a mandate to tour the province and collect comments from residents.

More specifically, it has asked the panel to find solutions to ensure the service remains reliable, that rates remain low and that the utility is able to transition to clean energy. The panel is expected to make its final recommendations by the end of March 2026.

Another attendee, Tom Mueller, wanted to know what it costs the utility to produce power and deliver it to people, without factoring in debt or other services.

“I have asked New Brunswick Power how much it costs to produce a kilowatt of power. And they can’t tell you,” Hawthorne replied, generating a few chuckles from people.

“That’s in itself insightful, and it’s because of the way the organization is structured. It’s a kind of, what I call, an amorphous mass. Even some of the best financial brains I know haven’t been able to get that question answered. But we will. … I am an operator — I have been all my life — and I’ve also been a chief executive, and if I go in any of my facilities, and the guy who runs it can’t tell me how much it costs to produce a kilowatt of power, I’ve got the wrong guy.”

Margo Sheppard, a Fredericton city councillor for Clements-Sunset, wanted to know how the review would address climate change and transitioning to greener fuels to produce electricity.

Hawthorne pointed to the mandate letter given by the government, saying a drive toward net zero was “enshrined” in the document.

Using a mix of energy sources while keeping up with emerging technology would help achieve a net zero solution, he said.

“New Brunswick actually, is pretty well set. It’s got 85 per cent of its supply mixes from non-emitting sources, which is something that we should be very proud of,” he said. 

“You know, we do have the ability to build on what’s already there.”

People are worried about high electricity bills and that NB Power may not be able to deliver on promises, said Hawthorne in an interview when asked what were some of the issues he’s heard at the sessions.

“The only thing I would say is there perhaps is a bit more anger. It’s not just about, you know, concern about the situation. I think there is a genuine undertone of people being angry, which I perhaps didn’t expect that.” 

Randall Leavitt, a property manager for Fredericton Non-Profit Housing Co., who attended the session also had a question about affordability and one pet peeve to share.

“Is there any way for them to get rid of the (recorded customer service phone message that says) ‘we’re experiencing higher than normal call volumes?’ Because I’ve been hearing that for 10 years.”

People laughed and clapped.

“We’re going to set up a telephone line that will state your comments are important to us,” replied panellist Anne E. Bertrand, the province’s former information and privacy commissioner.

Hawthorne, who is from Scotland, said the message could be recorded in a Scottish accent. “You won’t get any more help, but at least there’ll be a pleasant accent. … And maybe dad jokes.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2025.