As winter approaches in Nova Scotia, residents are facing an unexpected threat to their power grid and emergency services: organized copper theft. What began as isolated incidents has evolved into a sophisticated criminal enterprise that’s leaving thousands without power and compromising critical 911 communications.
Last week, three communities near Halifax experienced complete blackouts after thieves stripped copper wiring from six major electrical substations. The subsequent power outage affected approximately 14,000 homes and businesses, with restoration efforts hampered by extensive infrastructure damage.
“We’re not talking about opportunistic theft anymore,” explains RCMP Sergeant Marlene Davidson. “These are coordinated operations targeting critical infrastructure with specialized knowledge of electrical systems.”
The financial impact is staggering. Nova Scotia Power estimates repair costs have already exceeded $3.8 million this year alone, with copper theft incidents increasing 78% compared to 2024. Those costs will inevitably be passed to consumers through rate increases, according to utility representatives.
But the consequences extend far beyond financial concerns. During Tuesday’s outage, the provincial emergency management office reported that 911 service was disrupted for approximately 45 minutes in parts of Colchester County when backup systems failed to engage properly.
“When telecommunications infrastructure loses power, backup generators are supposed to seamlessly take over,” says Thomas Chen, director of the Nova Scotia Emergency Management Office. “But these systems rely on copper components too, creating a dangerous vulnerability when both primary and backup systems are targeted.”
For rural communities, these outages create life-threatening situations. Sarah MacKenzie, a resident of Stewiacke, describes how her husband’s oxygen concentrator failed during the recent blackout.
“We had about six hours of battery backup, but the power was out for nearly eleven,” MacKenzie told me during a community meeting last Thursday. “If not for neighbors with a generator, we would have been in serious trouble.”
Provincial officials acknowledge the growing crisis. Premier Jessica Williams convened an emergency cabinet meeting Friday to address what she termed “criminal attacks on essential services.” The province has announced a $1.2 million fund to enhance security at critical infrastructure sites and established a special RCMP task force dedicated to metal theft.
The economic factors driving this crime wave are clear. Copper prices have surged to record highs of $6.75 per pound—nearly triple the 2023 rates—due to increased global demand for renewable energy technologies and electric vehicles. This price spike has transformed ordinary metal into a lucrative target.
“Thieves can strip $5,000 worth of copper from a substation in under 30 minutes,” explains Nova Scotia Power security director James McIntyre. “And they’re becoming increasingly sophisticated, using specialized tools and techniques that minimize their risk of electrocution while maximizing their haul.”
What’s particularly concerning is how these crimes impact emergency preparedness as climate change intensifies. Nova Scotia has experienced three major hurricane events since 2023, making reliable power and communications infrastructure more critical than ever.
“These aren’t victimless crimes,” emphasizes Dr. Elaine Toomey, who researches critical infrastructure vulnerabilities at Dalhousie University. “When telecommunications and power systems fail simultaneously, it creates cascading failures across healthcare, transportation, and emergency services.”
Municipal leaders are scrambling to respond. Halifax Regional Municipality has implemented new regulations requiring scrap metal dealers to document seller identification and maintain detailed records of all purchases, but rural areas lack similar oversight.
“The challenge is that thieves are targeting remote substations where detection is unlikely, then selling the copper in different jurisdictions,” explains RCMP Constable Robert Williams. “Without a coordinated provincial approach, these crimes will continue.”
Community vigilance has become an essential line of defense. Nova Scotia Power has established a 24-hour hotline for reporting suspicious activity near electrical infrastructure and is offering rewards of up to $5,000 for information leading to arrests.
For everyday Nova Scotians, the consequences are felt in increasingly frequent outages. Schools in affected areas have canceled classes seven times this semester due to power reliability issues, and businesses report significant losses from spoiled inventory and interrupted operations.
“Every time the power flickers, we hold our breath,” says Marcus Jennings, who owns a small grocery store in Truro. “We’ve lost nearly $12,000 in refrigerated products this year alone. Insurance covers some, but our premiums keep climbing.”
As winter approaches, officials worry the problem may worsen. Cold weather typically brings increased power demand, putting additional strain on an already vulnerable system.
The province is exploring technological solutions, including replacing copper components with less valuable alternatives where possible and deploying advanced monitoring systems. But these measures take time and significant investment.
“This isn’t just about catching criminals anymore,” notes Davidson. “It’s about rethinking how we secure vital public services against threats we never anticipated.”
For now, Nova Scotians are adapting to a new reality where keeping the lights on can no longer be taken for granted. As I left my interview with the MacKenzie family, Sarah showed me their newest household purchase: battery-powered lanterns and a small generator.
“We can’t count on the system anymore,” she said with resignation. “We have to be ready for the next time—because we all know there will be a next time.”
