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The process unfolds

  • Jun 29
  • 3 min read

It’s been two months since NB Power filed an application with the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) to make changes to net metering – changes that will greatly damage the economics of solar energy, and stall our growing solar industry.


Solar NB Solaire has teamed up with CanREA, the Canadian Renewable Energy Association, to form the ‘Behind the Meter Technologies Coalition’ (BTMC). Our coalition has official Intervener status before the EUB as it considers the net metering changes NB Power has proposed. We’re working hard to represent the interests of installers and suppliers, plus every homeowner, business owner and farmer with solar or planning to have solar in the future.


So far:

  • We’ve hired Moncton-based strategic communications and government relations firm Portfolio (http://www.weareportfolio.com), and Patrick Bateman, an independent renewable energy and energy storage policy consultant based in Ottawa (http://www.pdbateman.ca)

  • We’ve formed a Steering Committee of Coalition partners that meets weekly to coordinate all of our government, media and EUB activities

  • We’ve examined NB Power’s proposed net metering changes closely

  • We’ve participated at a number of EUB procedural hearings, including a recent Technical Conference


Next steps:

  • We’re submitting a (lengthy) list of detailed questions for NB Power this week about the process and rationale behind the proposed net metering changes. NB Power will have three weeks to submit formal ‘on the record’ responses.

  • We’ll examine their responses and ask for clarification as needed

  • If necessary, we’ll prepare evidence of our own and submit it to the EUB

  • We’ll be front and center in the actual EUB hearings in October


It’s a long, complicated and expensive process (that could have been avoided had NB Power simply consulted with our industry first). But it’s worth it, to ensure a strong future for solar in New Brunswick!


We need your support to see this through!


Going through a formal regulatory process like this takes real resources. We're evaluating legal counsel and technical experts to make sure the solar sector is properly represented — and that NB Power's proposal gets the scrutiny it deserves. The cost of participation will run into the tens of thousands of dollars (or more).


We're pursuing every avenue we can, and there may be some possibility of cost recovery at the end of the process — but that's not guaranteed, and we can't wait to find out. Every solar user in New Brunswick — every household, farm, and business that has already invested in solar, and everyone considering it — is counting on this work to protect the program that made solar viable in the first place.


So please consider helping out financially. Whether you can give $25 or $2,500, your contribution will make a direct difference. Large and small donations help us keep our legal and technical team at the table through every step of this process.



And please share our campaign with anyone interested in a strong solar future for NB!


Please help us spread the word and grow!


NB Power’s proposed net metering changes underline why we need a strong voice for solar in NB. We’re delighted by how many system owners have joined us recently – but there are still many we haven’t reached.


Here are two simple ways you can help:


There’s never been a better time for solar, and there’s never been a more important time to work together to ensure its growth in NB!


A few headlines


Even though the net metering issue has been dominating our bandwidth lately, there are still plenty of great recent stories to share about solar; here are three:


And here's a graphic worth sharing – the global freefall in battery prices, and the spike in installations!  (Source: Ember Global electricity Review, April 21, 2026)

 
 

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