As of January 1, 2021, FortisBC natural gas customers will see an overall increase to their bill due to increasing storage and transport as well as delivery costs.
As an energy solutions provider regulated by the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), FortisBC reviews its rates each year and its natural gas commodity-related rates each quarter with the BCUC to make sure that the rates charged to customers appropriately recover the costs of energy and delivering it safely and reliably.
For FortisBC residential natural gas customers in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Interior, Whistler, Vancouver Island and the Kootenays, monthly natural gas bills will increase by approximately eight per cent, or six dollars, based on average usage (7.5 gigajoules per month). For residential customers in Fort Nelson, monthly bills will increase by approximately five per cent, or four dollars, based on average usage (10 gigajoules per month).
“There are a number of items that make up an energy bill, including the costs to store, transport and deliver energy, which have all increased,” explained Diane Roy, vice-president of regulatory affairs with FortisBC. “Our priority continues to be delivering safe and reliable energy to our customers while working to keep rates as low as possible.”
