Conservation Council’s Citizens’ Assembly on Electricity Affordability and Energy Poverty

Energy poverty is a term used to describe households that spend six per cent or more of their after-tax household income on heating, cooling and lighting their homes.

Around 37 per cent of New Brunswickers experience energy poverty. Many are concerned about rising energy costs. Are you spending six per cent or more of your after-tax household income on energy?

Would you like to participate in a Citizens’ Assembly to make recommendations to federal and provincial governments and utilities on how to keep electricity affordable and eliminate energy poverty, while eliminating carbon and air pollution from the electricity system?

The Conservation Council of New Brunswick is hosting a Citizens’ Assembly with a diverse group of about 12 New Brunswickers living in rural and urban communities, with different household incomes, educational backgrounds, cultural and linguistic backgrounds. The event will take place in February.

A Citizens’ Assembly is a process where people come together to consider an issue, supported by expert reports and advisors. A facilitator helps participants consider the facts, share their personal experience, and to identify areas of agreement and disagreement that can inform recommendations to decision-makers on opportunities to improve electricity affordability and reduce energy poverty.

If you are interested in participating in this important event, we ask you to consider the following:

1.  Do you have access to reliable internet, computer and camera so you can join us for a virtual Citizens’ Assembly in February?
2.  Can you read reports on energy affordability and energy poverty that are in English (we will provide material in French where they are available)?
3. Can you spare enough time to read the background materials we will share with you to help prepare you to participate in the Citizens’ Assembly?  Reading background materials may take you three to four hours.

If you would like to participate in the Conservation Council’s Citizens’ Assembly on Electricity Affordability and Energy Poverty, please reach out to Emma at emma.cox@conservationcouncil.ca.