We tracked N.S. power outages in 2024. There were unplanned outages nearly every day
An in-depth analysis of power outage data in Nova Scotia reveals a troubling trend: there was at least one unplanned outage nearly every day in 2024. Over the course of the year, there were a staggering 4,700 outages recorded, with only a single day without any unplanned interruptions in power supply. This information was gathered by CBC News, which monitored Nova Scotia Power’s online power outage map daily to track reported incidents.
The impact of these outages was felt across the province, with both urban centers like Halifax and Sydney experiencing numerous disruptions, as well as rural and remote areas facing inconsistent power availability. University of Calgary energy economics professor Lucija Muehlenbachs noted that the typical reliability standard is fewer than two outages per person per year, making the frequency of outages in Nova Scotia alarmingly high.
In response to these challenges, Nova Scotia Power has committed to investing $1.3 billion in reliability upgrades over the next five years. This includes a significant increase in funding for tree-trimming initiatives, which are aimed at reducing the number of outages caused by trees coming into contact with power lines. Trees on power lines were identified as the main cause of outages during storms, highlighting the importance of proactive measures to prevent such incidents.
The utility has also outlined priority regions for investment, targeting areas that have experienced significant growth in tree cover and are most affected by severe weather events. Additionally, Nova Scotia Power is modernizing the province’s power grid by installing new devices that can automatically isolate and localize outages, reducing the impact on customers.
While Nova Scotia grapples with frequent unplanned outages, a comparison with New Brunswick shows a different picture. In New Brunswick, there were 34 days in 2024 where there were no unplanned outages, highlighting the varying reliability of power systems across provinces. Planned maintenance was the most common reason for outages in Nova Scotia, with over 1,600 planned interruptions needed for reliability upgrades.
Weather events like high winds and fires also contributed to outages, with Nova Scotia experiencing over 100 hours of winds exceeding 80 km/h and more than 300 accidents involving vehicles hitting power poles. Despite efforts to improve reliability, the challenges posed by climate change and increasing demand for electricity from sources like heat pumps and electric vehicles continue to strain the power system.
As Nova Scotia Power works towards enhancing reliability and reducing outage durations, the importance of reliable power supply in an increasingly electrified society cannot be understated. The need for investments in resiliency and infrastructure upgrades is crucial to meeting the growing demand for electricity and protecting against severe weather events. By addressing the root causes of outages and implementing innovative solutions, Nova Scotia Power aims to provide a more reliable and resilient power system for its customers.
