Nova Scotia Power's new permit system causing long waits for electricians

Most mornings, Blair Leon waits on hold with Nova Scotia Power.

Leon operates Alliance Electrical Contracting inSydney.In April, the utility rolled out anew systemthat allows electricians to apply for permits and electrical inspections over the phone.Leon saidhe can be left on hold for hours if he doesn't callright when the line opensat 7a.m.

"You can't get through to them. That's the problem," hesaid. "You call one minute past 7 a.m., you're 45 in the queue."

The permit allows contractors to inform the utility that electrical work needs to be done on either new or existing homes. Nova Scotia Power is then able to send an employee to inspect the work and ensure the project is safe to go ahead.

Leon has waited days to get permits approved under the new system,he said, and that's setting him and his company back weeks on projects.

Justin MacDonald said he's had similar issues with the permit system. He owns JMD Electric in Sydney, and saidsome homeowners have been waiting months to move into new builds that are delayed because of the utility.

"Even if you called at 7 a.m.right on the dot, there could be anywhere between 30 to 60 people ahead of you," he said. "I waited over seven hours the other day."

MacDonaldsaid electricians in the province don't want to take days off of work to wait on hold. He worries somewill skip the process out offrustration.

"I know there are some people on rough-in inspections, they're just choosing not to wait," he said. "You're going to have instances where people are covering up work that has not been looked at by inspectors."

Nova Scotia Power responds

MacDonald saidthatcould create situations where homeowners are unaware that electrical work has not been inspected by the utility, creatingliability issues.

Both he and Leon saidthe people working the phones at the permit centreare not to blame.MacDonaldwould also like to seemore options added so thatelectricianswith multiple requests can be handled separately than smaller operators.

In an email, Nova Scotia Powersays they are working to address delays.

The utility said it is"adding more resources to support contractors on the phone line and anticipate more improvements in the next couple of weeks." Fifteen more staff have been hired, the statement said.