NB Power’s ban on disconnecting electricity does not go far enough, according to members from the ACORN advocacy group.
Starting Dec. 1, vulnerable people cannot have their power turned off if they fail to pay their bills.
That includes people 70 and older, people who rely on electric medical equipment, and households who make less than $70,000 a year.
“While it shows that NB Power and the NB government are listening to ACORN and our allies, a winter disconnection that is not permanent nor universal is not enough,” ACORN writes in a news release.
The ban lasts from today until March 31 next year, but ACORN says it should be permanent.
And it is unfair hardworking families could have their power cut if they are outside the income threshold, they say.
The utility says the new measure stems from a recommendation of the utility’s Vulnerable Persons committee, which started in May 2025.
“Electricity disconnection has always been a last resort, but we do understand that the possibility of that during the winter season can add additional stress to customers,” reads a statement from the utility’s website.
