NAS running cost in Atlantic Canada
By Devin Chua · Data checked by Owen Nakamura · Updated · Prices checked A NAS drawing 40 W around the clock (350 kWh a year) costs about CA$67 a year in Nova Scotia (19.128¢/kWh) and CA$63 on PEI (17.84¢/kWh), among the highest energy charges in Canada. We could not confirm New Brunswick's or Newfoundland's current rates against the utilities' own pages, so their figures are marked as needing a check.
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The calculator is pre-set to Nova Scotia; the rate is editable, and its source and dates are shown under it.
156 kWh/year · 18 W average at the wall
Electricity charge only: 156 kWh × 19.128¢. Delivery, regulatory charges and taxes not included.
The same NAS costs about CA$18.77/year more here than in Quebec (7.065¢/kWh): the cheapest place in Canada to run it.
A UPS adds a few percent loss but protects against the far costlier unclean shutdown. Annual figures use your current rate, drive count and active hours.
Province by province
For a 40 W NAS running all year:
- Nova Scotia (Nova Scotia Power, 19.128¢): about CA$67 a year.
- Prince Edward Island (Maritime Electric, 17.84¢ for the first 2,000 kWh per billing period): about CA$63 a year.
- New Brunswick (NB Power): about CA$47 a year at 13.3¢/kWh, a figure we could not re-confirm with NB Power.
- Newfoundland & Labrador (Newfoundland Power): about CA$49 a year at 14¢/kWh, also not re-confirmed with Newfoundland Power.
Why the levers matter more here
At Nova Scotia's 19.128¢/kWh, each extra spinning drive (about 45 kWh a year) costs roughly CA$8 to CA$9 a year. Fewer, larger drives for the same capacity, an efficient NAS and spin-down where it truly idles all save more here than in low-rate provinces.
What the figure includes
These are electricity (energy) charges only: delivery, regulatory charges, the fixed daily or monthly charge and taxes are not included, and the fixed charges are not caused by the NAS, so they are not spread over it.
Select your province in the calculator above: the rate fills in with its source and date, stays editable, and is flagged where we could not confirm it.
Compare with other provinces
Frequently asked questions
How much does a NAS cost to run in Nova Scotia?
About CA$67 a year for a NAS drawing 40 W around the clock, at Nova Scotia Power's 19.128¢/kWh (from May 1, 2026). Electricity charge only.
Which Atlantic province is cheapest to run a NAS in?
Of the two rates we could confirm, PEI (17.84¢/kWh) is below Nova Scotia (19.128¢/kWh). New Brunswick's and Newfoundland's figures on this page are not re-confirmed, so check them on your bill before comparing.
Is it expensive to run a homelab in Atlantic Canada?
Relatively, yes: Nova Scotia and PEI have some of the highest residential energy charges in Canada, more than double Quebec's first-tier price. For several always-on machines, drive count and efficiency matter more here.
Do Atlantic provinces have time-of-use rates for a NAS?
The standard residential rates we cover are not time-of-use, so a NAS pays the same price around the clock. Some utilities offer optional time-of-day plans; enter that plan's price in the calculator if you use one.
Devin Chua works out which drives, RAM and NVMe cache fit which NAS model at nasdrives.ca, and what the RAID choice means for usable capacity, checked against what is in stock on Amazon.ca.
Data checked by Owen Nakamura, Technical editor (data checking)