Customers with FortisBC should see a decrease in their bills in the new year. How much of a decrease depends on consumption. (The Canadian Press)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

reduced bills

Natural gas bills to be reduced slightly in 2024, says FortisBC

Dec 16, 2023 | 6:06 AM

NANAIMO — FortisBC customers could see a decrease in their natural gas bills in the new year, to the tune of about $1 a month.

FortisBC rates are regulated by the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC), with reviews on delivery and storage rates done every year, while the gas rate is reviewed each quarter.

Diana Sorace with FortisBC said the amount of savings will depend on user consumption rates.

“On January 1, customers are going to be seeing a bit of relief on their gas bills, at approximately $11 or 1 per cent annually, and that’s based on about 90 gigajoules (GJ) of consumption, which is the annual GJ amount for costumers.”

Monthly, that translates into an overall decrease of approximately 1.1 per cent, or less than $1 per month based on the average monthly consumption rate of 7.5 GJ.

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She said these rate changes will be the same across the board for all B.C. customers, excluding Fort Nelson customers, who have a different rate structure and will see an increase on their bills.

Sorace said customers subscribed to their renewable natural gas (RNG) will see around a 15 per cent reduction in their rate.

“It’s going from about $14 to about $12 per GJ. So if you’re not yet a subscriber of renewable natural gas and you’re looking at ways to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions, now might be the time to take advantage of that, because the renewable natural gas rate is in place for one year, so that rate will be at the $12 mark for the entire year.”

While the costs related to storing, transporting and delivering gas typically remain in place for the year, FortisBC reviews the cost of gas every quarter with the BCUC and the next review will be in March 2024.

The new rate has already been approved by the BCUC.

“These rates are going to be set and in effect as of January 1, and they won’t be changing until the end of next year, but we will evaluate each quarter the cost of gas, because that depends on the market price,” said Sorace. “There may be other rate changes coming next quarter, but for the annual rate change, it is reduced.”

— with files from Jon De Roo/97.3 The Eagle

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