March 7, 2012 – Nova Scotia Power is alerting customers in northern Cape Breton that a key-ring holding about 100 customer keys was stolen from the company’s Baddeck depot during a break-in overnight.

Customers provided the keys to enable meter readers to access indoor power meters on a route stretching though the communities of Baddeck, Whycocomagh, Marble Mountain, Margaree, Belle Cote, Grand Etang, Cheticamp, Meat Cove, Ingonish, Indian Brook, Englishtown and St. Ann’s, and back to Baddeck.

No customer-specific information (such as names or addresses) was included with the keys or attached to the ring.

Nova Scotia Power is phoning impacted customers directly to inform them of the theft. To ensure all potentially affected customers are reached, Nova Scotia Power is also asking any customer along the specified meter-reading route who has provided a key to phone the utility directly. Nova Scotia Power will reimburse affected customers who wish to change their locks.

Customers are asked to contact Tara Cranston, assistant manager of customer care, at tara.cranston@nspower.ca or 902-428-6153 ext. 6153.

“We sincerely apologize for any concern or inconvenience this may cause our customers,” said Robin McAdam, executive vice president of Strategic Business & Customer Services. “We are cooperating fully with the Baddeck RCMP in this investigation, and even though there is no identifying information with the keys, we want to do everything we can to ensure our customers and their property are safe.”

Nova Scotia Power is asking anyone with information on this incident to phone Baddeck RCMP at (902)-295-2350.