A government-appointed panel reviewing the future of N.B. Power has recommended the New Brunswick government take over a significant portion of the utility's debt to alleviate pressure for customer rate increases. The final report, titled "N.B. Power: A Path Forward," was submitted to the provincial government in late 2025.
The panel, chaired by former deputy minister of finance Paul Daigle, also recommended the province pursue the construction of a second large-scale nuclear power reactor at the Point Lepreau site. The report suggests this would help meet future clean energy demands and provide economic benefits.
The review was commissioned by the Progressive Conservative government of Premier Blaine Higgs to address the Crown corporation's substantial financial challenges. N.B. Power has been grappling with significant debt, recently reported to be over $5 billion, which has historically led to requests for substantial rate hikes from the Energy and Utilities Board.
While the report outlines these recommendations, the provincial government has not yet announced which actions it will adopt. Any decision to assume utility debt or advance a major nuclear project would require detailed planning and further governmental approval.
