Cost of gas rate to remain the same for FortisBC customers
FortisBC Energy Inc. (FortisBC) reviews the cost of gas rate every three months with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC). The company has received approval from the BCUC to maintain the cost of gas rate for all of its customers at $2.230 per gigajoule (GJ) as of April 1. This is unchanged from the last review in January that saw a decrease in the cost of gas for both natural gas and Renewable Natural Gas[1] (RNG) customers. The cost of gas rate will be reviewed by the BCUC again in June.
“We understand that energy costs are important to the families and businesses we serve, so we strive to deliver gas safely and reliably at the most reasonable cost,” said Joe Mazza, vice-president, energy supply and resource development at FortisBC. “Even with the cost of gas staying the same, we understand that customers may have questions about their bill so our customer service team is always ready to support them if they need it.”
FortisBC acquires natural gas at market-based prices and factors like supply and demand, weather and economic conditions affect the price of natural gas in North America. We do not mark up the cost of gas, so our customers pay what we pay.
The existing gas system plays an important role in British Columbia’s transition to a cleaner energy future, as it can deliver renewable and low-carbon gases[2] such as RNG and, potentially in the future, hydrogen to displace conventional natural gas.
On April 1, the Government of British Columbia’s carbon tax on natural gas and propane will increase. FortisBC does not gain revenue from these charges. Customers subscribing to RNG do not pay the carbon tax on the portion of their energy designated as RNG.
We encourage any customer who has questions about their bill to reach out. Our customer service team can answer billing questions, provide information about energy-saving tips and offer solutions that fit your personal needs.
For more information about rates and the components that make up a FortisBC gas bill, visit fortisbc.com/rates.