History
In 2026, we celebrate 100 years of the Antigonish Electric Utility!
According to the History of Antigonish by Dr. Patrick F. Walsh, electricity had arrived on a smaller scale in the late 1800s and was privately owned. As demand grew, it warranted a discussion about management and growth. This discussion led to the Town’s purchase of the electric utility, decided by council in 1925.
Benefits
As an independent utility provider, the Antigonish Electric Utility (AEU) buys at competitive rates from Nova Scotia Power and generates 40% of its own electricity with the windfarm we own with the Town of Berwick and the Town of Mahone Bay. This coalition is called AREA - Alternative Resource Energy Authority.
All AEU customers receive 40% of their electricity from the wind farm, but until we complete our Grid Modernization, only one section of our Town has access to the energy generated by our solar farm.
Antigonish Community Solar - operational since 2024
To get all the benefits from these and future clean sources of energy to reach our target of 80% renewables by 2030, the AEU will carry out modernizations of our electrical grid. This is done with federal funding received through SREP* to For more information, see the Grid Modernization tab!
SREP - The Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs). Launched in 2021 to support the deployment of grid modernization, energy storage and renewable energy technologies. The program also includes support for transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Grid Modernization also means we’ve begun moving transmission lines to more accessible locations so that during times of adverse weather events, our utilities are more accessible for repair, leading to a more resilient and reliable service for our customers.
Quick Facts
The Antigonish Electric Utility employs 7 people year-round and services approximately 4,000 customers.