New Brunswick's electricity rates have risen over 20% in two years. NB Power carries $5.9 billion in debt. And Green MLA David Coon stood in the legislature in December 2024 and said something no other Canadian politician had said quite so directly[1]:
"The advent of plug-in solar means the sun can also be used to cut power bills for those with low incomes living in apartments or homes at little cost, with little or no cost for installation."
New Brunswick has a new Liberal government that pledged a solar retrofit program, a Crown utility under independent review, rising rates creating consumer demand for alternatives, and a Green caucus that has already identified plug-in solar as the tool for energy poverty in apartments. The question is whether the Holt government will act on what Coon has been saying.
The Affordability Crisis
NB Power's residential rate hit 15.84 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2026, after back-to-back 9.7% increases in 2024 and 2025. A further 4.75% increase was sought for April 2026. The typical New Brunswick household uses 16,000 kWh per year — an annual bill approaching $2,800[2].
For a renter in a Fredericton apartment, a 1,200 W plug-in balcony system generating approximately 1,370 kWh per year would save roughly $217 annually — meaningful when every rate increase compounds the pressure[3].
NB Power's net metering program offers 1:1 retail-rate credits — matching Ontario and Nova Scotia as the most generous in Canada. But the program requires a licensed electrician, a wiring permit, formal interconnection approval, and a bi-directional meter. It was designed for $20,000 rooftop systems, not $700 balcony panels[4].
The utility also offers a $200/kW rebate (up to $3,000) through its Total Home Energy Savings Program — but only for systems connected through the full net metering process. Plug-in systems don't qualify[5].
The Crown Utility Under Review
NB Power is a Crown corporation carrying $5.9 billion in debt — the highest debt-to-equity ratio among comparable Canadian utilities. The Auditor General has flagged the utility's self-sustainability as a significant concern for multiple consecutive years[6].
In March 2026, an independent review panel delivered 50 recommendations, including that the provincial government absorb approximately $300 million in variance account debt. The review focused on financial sustainability, not distributed generation — but the underlying tension is directly relevant: NB Power needs stable retail revenue to service its debt, and distributed solar reduces retail sales[7].
Premier Holt acknowledged this tension in April 2026, pledging "structural affordability" improvements. The question is whether plug-in solar — which primarily reduces consumption rather than exporting power — can be framed as complementary to NB Power's financial recovery rather than threatening it[8].
Five Barriers
Barrier 1: The Canadian Electrical Code
New Brunswick adopted the CEC 25th Edition (2021) effective September 2022, with minimal provincial amendments. No amendments address Section 84 (interconnection) or Section 64 (renewable energy systems). The same national barriers apply: any grid-interactive generation requires formal utility interconnection[9].
The fix: A provincial amendment to NB Regulation 84-165 defining "plug-in PV" as a category, with a 1,200 W threshold, UL 3700 certification requirement, and a notification mechanism instead of a full permit. The responsible minister is Robert Gauvin (Public Safety), who oversees Technical Inspection Services[10].
Barrier 2: NB Power Interconnection
Even small residential solar requires an interconnection application (10 business days for approval), a licensed electrician for installation (30–90 business days), a TIS inspection (10 business days), and an NB Power meter upgrade (10 business days). The full process can take months[11].
The fix: NB Power issues a policy statement that certified plug-in systems under 1,200 W can operate without a net metering agreement, bi-directional meter, or formal approval. This is within NB Power's existing administrative authority — no legislation required. The key minister is René Legacy (Energy)[12].
Barrier 3: Product Certification
The same national barrier: no ANSI/CAN/UL 3700-certified product exists for the Canadian market. However, NB Regulation 84-165 gives the Chief Electrical Inspector discretion to approve "equipment of a specialized nature having a limited local market" — a provision that could serve as a transitional pathway before the bi-national standard is finalized[13].
Barrier 4: The Condominium Property Act
New Brunswick's Condominium Property Act (c-16.05, in force since 2010) contains no provisions for solar installations, EV charging, or any clean energy technology. Balconies are exclusive-use common elements — the corporation controls modifications. A condo board can effectively block plug-in solar by passing a rule prohibiting panel installations[14].
The fix: Amend the Act to define plug-in solar devices as personal energy devices (like a laptop) rather than structural modifications, with a deemed-approval mechanism if the board doesn't respond within 30 days. The responsible ministers are David Hickey (Housing) and Rob McKee (Justice)[15].
Barrier 5: Tenant Rights
New Brunswick's Residential Tenancies Act doesn't address solar. A renter wanting to plug a certified panel into their balcony outlet has no protection against a landlord's refusal.
The fix: Amend the Residential Tenancies Act to define certified plug-in solar as an authorized use that doesn't require landlord consent when no permanent structural attachment is involved.
The Political Window
Five factors make this a favorable moment for advocacy in New Brunswick:
Rising rates create demand. Twenty percent increases over two years change the political calculus — self-generation goes from nice-to-have to necessity for many households[2].
Premier Holt's unfulfilled solar pledge. The Liberal campaign promised a solar retrofit program. A plug-in solar component would be a visible, low-cost deliverable — and the cheapest way to show action on affordability[16].
Green MLA David Coon has already made the argument, explicitly naming plug-in solar for apartments. Green MLA Megan Mitton filed a Notice of Motion in March 2026 urging the government to "implement a comprehensive and accessible solar retrofit program that removes financial barriers and expands access to solar energy for all New Brunswickers"[1].
New England momentum. Maine signed plug-in solar legislation on April 6, 2026. Vermont's bill passed the Senate 29–0. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island are all considering legislation. New Brunswick shares a border — and a media market — with Maine[17].
NB Power's own clean energy strategy targets 300 MW of on-site (behind-the-meter) solar by 2035. Plug-in balcony systems contribute directly to this target at zero utility cost[18].
The Coalition
The Conservation Council of New Brunswick is the province's most prominent clean energy advocate. David Coon was the CCNB's executive director before entering politics — the organization's DNA runs through the Green caucus. CCNB has published briefing notes on grid modernization and distributed energy resources[19].
CRED-NB (Coalition for Responsible Energy Development) advocates for 100% renewable energy and has called for "fully integrating distributed energy sources" in its March 2026 submission to the NB Energy and Utilities Board[20].
Solar NB Solaire is the province's dedicated solar industry association — small but focused specifically on New Brunswick[21].
EOS Eco-Energy (Sackville) coordinates the Renewables NB network promoting renewable energy and sector development across the province[22].
What We're Asking For in New Brunswick
- Minister René Legacy (Energy) to direct NB Power to issue a policy exempting certified plug-in systems under 1,200 W from the formal interconnection and net metering process — notification only, no meter change, no fee
- Minister Robert Gauvin (Public Safety) to amend NB Regulation 84-165 creating a provincial electrical code exemption for UL 3700-certified plug-in solar devices
- Ministers David Hickey (Housing) and Rob McKee (Justice) to amend the Condominium Property Act with a right-to-solar provision for exclusive-use balconies
- Premier Susan Holt to include plug-in solar in the promised solar retrofit program — the lowest-cost, highest-access component of any solar strategy
- CSA Group to finalize the bi-national ANSI/CAN/UL 3700 standard
David Coon has already said the words. The Green caucus has filed the motion. The rates are rising. The premier promised action on solar. Maine — one bridge away — just signed plug-in solar into law.
New Brunswick doesn't need to be first. It just needs to not be last.