Priority Power Restoration for Medically Dependent Homes

Summary#

This bill creates a province-wide list of people who rely on electric-powered medical equipment at home. The goal is to make sure their homes are prioritized when power is restored after an outage. It also sets rules for keeping their information secure and sharing it with the power utility and emergency officials.

• Sets up a Medically at-Risk Registry for people who use medical equipment that needs electricity at home.
• Lets the person, a family member, or a substitute decision-maker apply to be added.
• Requires the Nova Scotia Health Authority to keep the list up to date and share it with Nova Scotia Power and the Emergency Management Office (the province’s disaster team).
• Orders Nova Scotia Power to prioritize restoring electricity to these homes during outages, and to report on compliance if asked.
• Requires that registry data be securely encrypted and used only for outage restoration.

What it means for you#

• People using electric medical equipment at home

  • You can apply to be on the registry so your home is prioritized when power is restored after an outage.
  • Examples may include devices like oxygen machines or ventilators. The bill defines eligibility broadly as equipment that needs electricity to work.
  • Being on the registry does not guarantee no outages. It means higher priority when crews restore power.
  • Your contact details, an emergency contact, and your address will be stored. This information must be encrypted and used only to help restore your power sooner.

• Family members and caregivers

  • You can apply on behalf of a medically at-risk person, including as a substitute decision-maker.
  • Keep contact and address details current so emergency teams and Nova Scotia Power have accurate information.

• All electricity customers

  • During outages, some repair work may be directed first to areas with registered medically at-risk people.
  • This could change the order in which some neighbourhoods get power back, especially if a registered person lives there.

• Health system and emergency planners

  • The Nova Scotia Health Authority will maintain the registry and share updates regularly with Nova Scotia Power and the Emergency Management Office.
  • The shared list should help coordinate outage response and protect people at higher medical risk.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Helps protect residents whose health depends on powered medical devices by getting their lights back on sooner.
• Improves coordination between health officials, the power utility, and emergency managers before and during storms.
• Could prevent medical emergencies, hospital visits, or worse during long outages.
• Creates a clear, simple way for families and caregivers to flag urgent needs.
• Protects privacy by requiring encryption and limiting how the information is used.

Opponents' View#

• May be hard to deliver during major storms, when crews must first fix widespread damage or address public safety issues.
• Could create a false sense of security; “priority” does not mean immediate restoration, and people still need backup plans.
• Keeping the list accurate and current may be challenging, which could reduce its usefulness.
• Raises privacy and data-sharing concerns, even with encryption.
• Might shift restoration order in ways some customers view as unfair, or slow power return to others in the same area.