Nunavut power rate goes up by 7.1%

Home and business owners in Nunavut will pay 7.1 per cent more for electricity as of May 1.

QEChad submitted a request for arate increase to the Utilities Rates Review Council last fall, before the Government of Nunavut announced it wasraising fuel prices.

TheQulliqEnergy Corporation is increasing base rates for most customers.

People who are part of the Public Housing Power Support Program will not be affected. QEC says they will continue to pay six cents per kilowatt hour. Anyone using the Nunavut Electricity Subsidy Programwho stays within QEC's set limitswill continue to pay half Iqaluit'sbase rate.

Qulliq Energy presidentPeter Ma said in a news releasethat the rate increase is needed to balance the utility's growing expenses.