You may have seen headlines in the news suggesting that your natural gas bill is going up by 80 per cent. This is incorrect. In reality, only one line item on your bill is increasing: the natural gas commodity charge. The other line items on your bill will remain the same.

Last week, we received direction from the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) to increase the cost of gas rate by $0.909 per gigajoule to reflect what we’re now paying for gas.

What does this mean for you?

The cost of natural gas will change from $1.141 to $2.05 per gigajoule, starting October 1. So for the average residential customer it means an increase of approximately $3.50 to $7 per month, depending on the region you live in.

We don’t mark up the cost of gas–you pay what we pay. The natural gas commodity charge on your bill covers the cost of gas we purchase for our customers.

The cost of natural gas is still close to the lowest levels we’ve seen in the last decade. Natural gas remains an affordable energy choice to heat your home and water compared to electricity.

If you want to find out what this change will mean to your total bill, look at the amount of gigajoules used on your most recent bill and multiply it by $2.05 instead of $1.141. Or give us a call at 1-888-224-2710.

Information and a video about our natural gas rate structure can be found here.

Is this change for all customers?

This change is impacting customers in Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Whistler, Fraser Valley, Interior, North and the Kootenays.

Customers in Fort Nelson will not see any changes to their cost of gas rates.

Customers in Revelstoke will not see any changes to their cost of propane rates.

Customer Choice program participants will not be affected by changes to the cost of gas rate.

How are rates decided?

Natural gas is traded in the North American marketplace as a commodity like oil, gold or lumber. Our commodity rates are reviewed every three months by the BCUC to ensure the rates we are charging appropriately cover the cost of natural gas we purchase on behalf of our customers.