Town News
News From The Maritime Municipal Electric Utility Alliance
- Details
- Published: Monday, 20 April 2026 08:27
FEDERAL FUNDING BACKS MARITIME MUNICIPAL UTILITIES IN CLEAN ENERGY PUSH
April 20, 2026
BERWICK, N.S. – The Maritime Municipal Electric Utility Alliance (MMEUA) has secured federal funding for a project worth $505,000 to strengthen grid modernization and clean energy planning across its nine member utilities in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
The Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), is making a non-repayable contribution of $420,750 toward the initiative to help community-owned utilities plan smarter, invest more strategically, and develop new programs to help customers make the switch to cleaner, lower-cost electricity.
“Strong, resilient communities are built on smart, forward-looking investments here at home,” said the Honourable Sean Fraser, P.C., K.C., Member of Parliament for Central Nova, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. “This support will help community-owned utilities deliver reliable, sustainable energy services. By building stronger local systems, we’re helping ensure Atlantic Canada, and Canada as a whole, has the capacity to power its own future and meet the needs of Canadians.”
For the customers and communities served by MMEUA members, the work means more reliable service, expanded electrification options, and utilities that are better equipped to keep rates competitive and infrastructure resilient for years to come.
“Small utilities have big roles to play in Canada's clean energy future,” said Glen Fillmore, Chair of the Maritime Municipal Electric Utility Alliance and Vice-President of Strategic Growth and Transformation at Saint John Energy in New Brunswick. “This investment deepens our ability to move forward together – sharper roadmaps, broader expertise and the kind of regional confidence that only comes from doing this as a team.”
Work under the initiative will include long-term infrastructure planning, operational benchmarking, enhancements to cybersecurity infrastructure and an electrification business plan to help member utilities capture new opportunities while serving customers through the energy transition.
“This is about making sure every utility in our Alliance – regardless of size – has what it needs to serve its community well into the future,” said Randy Delorey, Vice-Chair of MMEUA and Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Antigonish. “Together, we can achieve what none of us could on our own.”
MMEUA brings together Saint John Energy, Edmundston Energy and the Perth-Andover Electric Light Commission in New Brunswick; municipal utilities in the Towns of Antigonish, Mahone Bay, Riverport, Berwick and Lunenburg in Nova Scotia; and the City of Summerside in Prince Edward Island.
“Grid modernization and electrification planning are community priorities, not just utility ones,” said Greg Gaudet, Executive Secretary of MMEUA and Director of Municipal Services for the City of Summerside. “The gains from this investment will be felt across the region.”
The MMEUA launched in February 2025 to give community-owned utilities a collective voice and shared capacity to lead in the clean energy transition. This initiative marks the Alliance's first major coordinated investment since its founding.
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About the Maritime Municipal Electric Utility Alliance
The MMEUA is a regional alliance of nine municipally owned electric utilities in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Formed in 2025, the Alliance enables member utilities to collaborate on clean energy, grid modernization, operational excellence and customer-focused solutions while maintaining strong local connections and independence. Learn more at mmeua.ca.
Lunenburg Council Approves 2026/27 Town Operating Budget
- Details
- Published: Friday, 17 April 2026 11:57
Lunenburg Town Council approved the 2026/27 Operating Budget for the Town at its April 14, 2026, Council meeting.
The balanced Town Operating Budget is $12,054,200 for the 2026/27 fiscal year. To support capital investment and with increased pressures to operating costs the residential and commercial rates have increased by 7.9 cents and 12.1 cents, respectively. The residential rate will be $1.455 per $100 of assessment, and the commercial rate will be $3.479 per $100.
Top-line details from each of the budgets include:
2026/27 Town Operating Budget
Mandatory Expenses
Over $2.5 million of the Town’s operating budget goes toward mandatory services the Town is required to fund, including:
- Education contributions: $1.3 million
- RCMP policing services: $1.2 million
- Assessment services: $52,000
Key Highlights of the Town Operating Budget
- Sewer rates will increase by 2.1% to help cover rising costs associated with operating and maintaining the Town’s wastewater system. For residential customers, this means an increase of approximately $15.44 per year, from $735.38 to $750.82.
- Other major spending areas include:
- Transportation services (road maintenance, fleet, and street lighting): $1.73 million
- Environmental health services (wastewater and garbage): $1.73 million
- Recreation and cultural programs: $1.08 million
The 2026/27 Budget also includes a $135,000 contribution the Town is setting aside to help pay for future infrastructure work, such as possible roads, sidewalks, or major facility upgrades.
Building up this reserve over time helps reduce the need for larger tax increases or borrowing when those projects move forward. Increasing the reserve allows for greater borrowing ability and, more importantly, positions the Town to apply for larger grants by demonstrating an ability to have adequate matching funding on hand.
CELEBRATING LUNENBURG’S VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
- Details
- Published: Wednesday, 15 April 2026 12:45
CELEBRATING LUNENBURG’S REPRESENTATIVE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
WHEN: THURSDAY, APRIL 23
6:00PM
WHERE: LUNENBURG & DISTRICT FIRE HALL
Each year, the Town of Lunenburg, along with the Mayor and Council, honours volunteers who make a significant impact in our community by offering their time and expertise to support local services and programs.
Join us as we celebrate these deserving volunteers at the annual Volunteer Appreciation event. Additionally, one outstanding volunteer will be named as the Representative Volunteer of the Year and will be honored at the Provincial Volunteer Awards.
Please RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Council Highlights: April 14, 2026
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- Published: Wednesday, 15 April 2026 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.
HotSpot has arrived in Lunenburg!
- Details
- Published: Monday, 13 April 2026 09:24
HotSpot has arrived in Lunenburg!
In addition to traditional coin payment, the HotSpot parking payment option is now available at all of the 200+ parking meters in Lunenburg.
HotSpot is a mobile payment platform that allows users to pay for parking and to top up their parking time by using their cell phones.
For more about parking in Lunenburg - Parking - Town of Lunenburg
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: Lunenburg Water Utility Rate Application
- Details
- Published: Tuesday, 07 April 2026 12:24
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: Lunenburg Water Utility Rate Application
April 7, 2026
As approved by Council on March 17, 2026, the Town of Lunenburg has submitted a rate application to the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board on behalf of the Lunenburg Water Utility.
A public hearing for this application has been scheduled by the Board for the May 27, 2026. As part of the application, the Town has requested adjustments to the current flat rate for residential customers and commercial meter rates.
What Does This Mean for Customers?
Domestic (Household) Customers: Can expect their bills to increase by $14.46 per quarter, from $170.39 to $184.85.
Even with the increase, Lunenburg’s proposed rate falls at the median compared to those of other municipality water utilities.
Commercial Customers: The proposed 8.9% to 12.5% increase will depend on service type.
These proposed increases must be approved by the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board before the can take effect. If approved, the new rates are expected to take effect in July 2026.
The Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board is an independent, quasi-judicial body responsible for regulation water utilities and ensuring that rates are fair, reasonable, and in the public interest. In this case the Board will review the Town’s proposed water rate increased to determine if they are justified and reasonable.
Please note that although the Water Utility is currently undergoing a Water Meter Installation Program, residential properties shall remain on the flat rate as the Utility accrues usage data. Residential customers can expect this process to take approximately a year, at which time the Water Utility will have to make a new application for the Board’s review for all customers rates to be based on metered usage.
Questions? Contact 902-634-4410 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
