Guidance for facilities that are obligated or opting to register under the Output-based Pricing System and the necessary steps for registration, reporting and compliance.
Key dates
Regulated facilities registered for the Output-based Pricing System for 2024 must adhere to the following deadlines:
- 1 June 2025 - Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reports
- 1 December 2025 - Compliance Reports
Legislation and policy
- Environment Act (PDF)
- Output-based Pricing System Registration and Opt-in Regulations
- Output-based Pricing System Reporting and Compliance Regulations
- Output-based Pricing System Reporting and Compliance Standard (PDF)
- Output-based Pricing System Reporting and Compliance Standard Adoption Regulations - Ministerial Order (PDF)
Registration
If your facility isn’t registered and you have questions about Nova Scotia’s Output-based Pricing System for Industry, contact nsobps@novascotia.ca.
Industrial Facility Definition
Industrial facilities are defined in Section 112R(l) of the Environment Act and include Nova Scotian facilities engaged in (i) manufacturing and processing; (ii) mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction; or, (iii) electricity generation.
Mandatory Regulated Facilities
Industrial facilities emitting 50,000 tonnes or more of greenhouse gas emissions annually are obligated to participate in the Output-based Pricing System.
The owner or operator of a regulated facility must apply to the Minister for registration by September 1 of the year following the year in which the facility first generates 50,000 tonnes or more of greenhouse gas emissions.
For example, if the regulated facility first exceeded 50,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in the 2024 calendar year, the facility is required to register by 1 September 2025.
To register, complete and submit the Application for Registration as a Regulated Facility (MS Excel).
Voluntary Regulated Facilities
Industrial facilities with total annual greenhouse gas emissions below the mandatory threshold of 50,000 tonnes but reaching 10,000 tonnes or more in any calendar year from 2020 (inclusive) onward are eligible to apply to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to voluntarily opt-in to the Output-based Pricing System program.
The deadline to voluntarily apply to the Minister as an opted-in facility is on or before September 1 of the preceding year. For example, to apply to opt-in for 2026, a facility’s application is due on or before 1 September 2025.
To voluntarily opt-in, complete and submit the Application for Designation as an Opted-In Facility (MS Excel).
Once designated by the Minister as opted-in, an owner or operator of a facility must submit the Application for Registration as a Regulated Facility (MS Excel) within 15 business days of Ministerial designation.
Reporting
The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report (MS Excel) provides Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change with prescribed production and emissions data for a regulated facility. Verified Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reports must be submitted on or before June 1 of the year following the reporting and compliance period in question. For example, emissions for the 2024 calendar year must be reported on or before 1 June 2025.
The Compliance Report must be submitted for any compliance period in which a facility’s regulated emissions exceed its emissions limit. In this report, the owner or operator must outline how any applicable compliance obligation for this compliance period was met. This includes details on all fund credits and performance credits being used for compliance, with their associated serial numbers.
If required, complete and submit the Compliance Report (MS Excel) on or before December 1 of the year following the compliance period. For example, a Compliance Report for the 2023 calendar year must be submitted on or before 1 December 2024.
Standby Period Request
An owner or operator of a regulated facility may apply to the Minister to be placed in standby under the Output-based Pricing System if production has ceased for a period of more than 3 months. While the facility is in a standby period, Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reports will need to be submitted as scheduled, however the reports will not require verification and the facility will not incur compliance obligations for the period the facility is in standby.
Standby Period Request (MS Excel)
Decommissioning Request
The owner or operator of a regulated facility that has been decommissioned may apply to the Minister for removal from the Output-based Pricing System.
Decommissioning Request (MS Excel)
For more information contact nsobps@novascotia.ca.