Would-be Nova Scotia Power customer unable to get electricity hooked up

Anjuli Patil · CBC News

· Posted: May 01, 2025 4:05 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hr ago

A would-be Nova Scotia Power customer who is moving into a caller location says she is unable to get her energy connected because the institution is responding only to emergencies and outages amid a cybersecurity incidental that was discovered April 25.

Amara Fortier is successful the process of moving from her residence astatine Acadia University to unrecorded off-campus successful Wolfville, N.S., with 3 roommates. More than a week earlier the institution disclosed the cybersecurity breach connected April 28, she said she tried to make an online relationship but was unsuccessful. She called Nova Scotia Power and was told they couldn't bash thing astir it, she said.

"Especially aft a large move, we can't spend to beryllium going and getting takeout, possibly getting a edifice country until powerfulness comes backmost on. We're conscionable sitting determination successful the acheronian then," Fortier told CBC News connected Wednesday, the time earlier she was acceptable to move.

"It's not precise reassuring erstwhile you telephone the lawsuit work and they archer you they can't bash anything."

Fortier attempted to get an reply from the institution connected Facebook too, but was told by the Nova Scotia Power relationship that it was "currently unfastened to enactment our customers for emergencies and outages only."

'I wasn't getting immoderate answers'

Fortier said she turned to societal media due to the fact that she was stressed retired astir the situation.

"I was upset due to the fact that I wasn't getting immoderate answers," Fortier said.

Even customers with existing accounts who are trying to determination into caller homes are having a hard clip reaching Nova Scotia Power astir caller connections.

James Walker is successful the process of moving to Morden, N.S., from Dartmouth — astir an hr and a fractional away. While the energy successful his caller location successful Kings County was inactive connected on Wednesday morning, Walker said helium had nary mode of confirming however overmuch longer that would last.

"Fortunately, I'm successful an flat truthful I tin instrumentality the adjacent period to spell and move. But if I wasn't, I would decidedly beryllium successful a hard spot," Walker told CBC News.

He said erstwhile he tried to log into his Nova Scotia Power relationship connected April 25, the website wasn't accessible, but helium didn't deliberation overmuch of it astatine the time.

"But past I saw connected Monday they really posted they've been having a cybersecurity incidental since then. I was a small amazed they took that agelong to spell and station astir it," Walker said. 

Questions stay astir incident

He said an email helium subsequently sent to the institution hadn't been answered.

Walker wants to cognize if immoderate lawsuit accusation was compromised successful the cybersecurity incident. In a effect to that question connected Facebook, the institution said "the probe is ongoing, but we volition pass with customers if it's determined that they person been impacted by this incident."

Walker besides wondered erstwhile work volition beryllium afloat operational again.

"I deliberation they should beryllium communicating a batch more, similar adjacent if they don't needfully person progress, adjacent conscionable telling people, that is thing arsenic opposed to conscionable leaving radical guessing," helium said.

CBC News contacted Nova Scotia Power connected Wednesday nighttime to inquire astir the plight of caller customers moving into caller homes without electricity, whether customer accusation was compromised successful the breach and when service would beryllium afloat restored. The company's effect volition beryllium added erstwhile received.