Jim Harpell is surprised by the significant increase in his power bills for this year. Nova Scotia Power issued him an estimated bill of $2,755.78 for the period between July and September, a notable jump from his previous bills following the cyberattack in March. His bill for May to July was $110.42, while the one for September 2024 to May this year was $304.31.
Expressing his frustration, Harpell described the situation as “highway robbery” and questioned the accuracy of Nova Scotia Power’s billing practices. The utility recently clarified, for the first time since the cyberattack, how they calculate estimated bills.
According to Nova Scotia Power’s report submitted to the energy board, historical billing data is utilized to determine estimated bills, with efforts underway to enhance privacy protocols. The utility aims to rebuild customer trust following the cybersecurity breach affecting approximately 375,000 customers.
The report highlighted that more than 75% of customers were on estimated billing as of last May, a figure that rose to over 80% by June. The utility explained that due to communication challenges with smart meters post-breach, bills have been estimated based on seasonal averages to prevent extreme fluctuations.
While Nova Scotia Power has made progress in reconnecting smart meters, around 56% of bills have been estimated since the cyberattack. Only 0.54% of bills were estimated before the security breach. Customers like Daniel Duplisea have expressed dismay over receiving inflated bills compared to their usual charges, questioning the utility’s inability to provide accurate estimates.
With ongoing efforts to restore meter readings and improve billing accuracy, Nova Scotia Power aims to address customer concerns and rectify billing discrepancies.