Who Serves on the Board

The Board consists of experienced professionals who are committed to public service, fairness, and evidence-based decision‑making.

They bring expertise from their various backgrounds, including as:

• Lawyers who have practiced in administrative, commercial, environmental, energy, or municipal law. They have appeared before courts and tribunals, advised governments, and worked extensively with legislation and regulatory frameworks.
• Professional engineers with experience in municipal infrastructure, utilities, and large‑scale public works. They have technical insight into how regulated systems operate in practice.
• Accountants with backgrounds in auditing, risk management, and corporate governance.
• Public administrators who have held senior roles in government departments, professional associations, or community organizations. They bring a strong knowledge of public accountability and community engagement.

In addition, Board Members typically have long histories of volunteer service and leadership in professional and community organizations. This reflects the Board’s expectation that Members demonstrate integrity, impartiality, and a commitment to the public good.

Current Board Members:

• Stephen McGrath, K.C. (Chair)
• Roland A. Deveau, K.C. (Vice Chair)
• Richard J. Melanson, LL.B.
• Steven Murphy, MBA, P.Eng.
• Jennifer Nicholson, CPA, CA
• Darlene Willcott, LL.B.

What Board Members Do

Board Members are the independent and impartial decision makers on matters that come before the Board. Their work includes:

• Conducting public hearings to receive evidence from utilities, experts, government departments, businesses, members of the public, and other interested parties.
• Issuing impartial decisions that explain the Board’s reasoning and set out any conditions or requirements.
• Reviewing applications and appeals, adjudicating customer complaints, and considering administrative discipline or penalties for regulatory breaches.
• Setting or approving rates to ensure services are safe, reliable, and provided at just and reasonable cost.
• Monitoring compliance with legislation, Board orders, and industry standards.

Board Members must base their decisions solely on the evidence before them and the law.

Appointment Process

Board Members are appointed through a formal process that is like the process to appoint a Provincial Court judge. This process is designed to ensure appointments are independent, based on merit, and maintain continuity.

The Board consists of five to seven full-time Members and up to three part-time Members, all of whom are appointed by the Governor in Council. Before starting their work, every Member must be sworn or affirmed to carry out their duties faithfully and in the public interest.

If needed, the Chair may appoint a Member of the Regulatory and Appeals Board to serve on a specific matter before this Board. This is a temporary appointment to ensure the right expertise is available.

Term Lengths

Board Members serve under one of two different term systems, depending on when they were first appointed.

• Full-time Members appointed on or after April 1, 2025, hold office on good behaviour for a term of up to ten years. They may be reappointed for additional terms, each up to ten years. 
• Full-time Members appointed before April 1, 2025, hold office on good behaviour until they reach age 70. 
• All part-time Members hold office for a term length decided by the Governor in Council.

If a Member’s term ends, or if they resign or retire, they may be asked to finish any matters or decisions they were working on. The Governor in Council decides how long they may continue for this purpose. This ensures that ongoing proceedings are completed fairly and without delay.

Compensation

Board Member compensation is on par with the pay scales for senior officials working in the provincial government, starting at about $175,000 for Members, $188,000 for the Vice Chair, and $203,000 for the Chair.

Standards of Conduct

The Board follows the Ethical Principles for Judges, issued by the Canadian Judicial Council, as its guide for proper conduct. Members are not permitted to participate in any matter connected to their former employment or former clients for an appropriate time after joining the Board.

Board Members cannot be employed by or hold any shares or other financial interest in a regulated utility. As a result, no Members own or are able to own shares in Nova Scotia Power or Emera (or any company that is regulated by the Board).

If a Member bought shares before joining the Board, they are required by law to divest them. If they don’t dispose of their financial interest, their appointment may be revoked by the Governor in Council.

More details are outlined in Section 14 of the Energy and Regulatory Boards Act.