Halifax Provincial Court is pictured on June 20, 2024. (Jacob Moore/Acadia Broadcasting)
A Nova Scotia law firm has filed a proposed class action lawsuit against Nova Scotia Power, alleging the utility failed to protect customer information during a recent cyber breach and may have overcharged thousands of residents.
MacGillivray Injury and Insurance Law submitted a statement of claim to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia on Friday.
The filing focuses on two core issues: the data breach that exposed sensitive customer information — including Social Insurance Numbers, banking details and other personal data — and long-standing concerns about inaccurate or inflated billing.
“Nova Scotians trusted Nova Scotia Power with their personal information and their money. This lawsuit seeks to hold NSP accountable on both fronts,” said Jamie MacGillivray, founder and CEO of the firm.
The proposed representative plaintiff, Danielle Fraser, said she is participating because many customers still lack answers about what happened during the breach and whether billing errors have cost them money.
“Like so many Nova Scotians, I deserve answers about how my information was compromised and whether I’ve been paying more than I should,” she said. “I’m proud to stand up for customers across this province.”
Concerns about overbilling intensified earlier this year after a cyber incident disrupted meter reading across the province.
The concerns raised in the lawsuit come as Premier Tim Houston is calling for a deeper examination of the utility’s practices.
Earlier this week, the Premier asked the Nova Scotia Energy Board to launch an official investigation into Nova Scotia Power’s billing methodology, consumer protections, potential penalties, and possible financial relief for customers affected by the cyber incident.
“Customers should not be paying for NSP’s failures,” Houston wrote in a letter requesting the review.
He said Nova Scotians are bearing the consequences of operational shortcomings that followed the attack.
The Energy Board is already conducting its own investigation into the breach and has been asked to provide a public update by the province.
The class action has not yet been certified by the court. If approved, it would allow affected Nova Scotia Power customers to participate as part of a broader group rather than filing individual claims.
Customers who believe they may have been impacted by the breach or potential overbilling can contact MacGillivray Law through a form on the firm’s website.
Nova Scotia Power has not yet publicly responded to the filing.
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