The Halifax Water District Energy System is a centralized heating and cooling network that serves buildings in Halifax’s Cogswell District. The system circulates water through underground pipes to deliver or remove thermal energy to efficiently heat, cool, and supply hot water to buildings in the neighbourhood.
Halifax Water owns and operates the system, using heat recovered from its nearby wastewater treatment facility to generate thermal energy. The system is a public utility, regulated by the Board under the Public Utilities Act. The Board’s role is to ensure customers receive safe and reliable service at just and reasonable rates.
The Board’s specific responsibilities include:
- Approving rates and the general terms of service
- Approving spending on capital items (e.g., equipment, pipes, buildings)
- Resolving customer complaints about rates and service
For more information, please refer to the Energy and Regulatory Boards Act, the More Access to Energy Act, and the Public Utilities Act.
Why Regulation is Needed
Buildings in the Cogswell District are required under municipal By-Law D-500 to use the district energy system for heating, cooling, and hot water. That means Halifax Water operates a monopoly service in the neighbourhood.
Regulation ensures that this monopoly operates with accountability and transparency, and that all utility investments are subject to independent oversight.
Note: No buildings are currently being served by the district energy system. So far, the Board has only approved spending requests to build the system and prepare it for future use.