Business
Terasen Gas applies for January rate increases
SURREY, BC, Dec. 4 /CNW/ - Terasen Gas is asking the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) for increases...
About this update from Fortis Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\nSURREY, BC, Dec. 4 /CNW/ - Terasen Gas is asking the BC Utilities\nCommission (BCUC) for increases to various rates in several service areas. The\nproposed changes include increases to midstream and delivery rates for\ncustomers in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Interior, North and the\nKootenays.\n\n\nIf approved, a typical residential customer in the Lower Mainland, Fraser\nValley, Interior, North and the Kootenays will see their total annual gas bill\nrise by about 4 per cent, approximately $44 to $52 per year depending on\nconsumption levels. The changes are a result of the increased cost of storing,\ntransporting and managing the gas delivered to customers. In addition, this\nincludes costs associated with the Customer Choice program, as all residential\ncustomers in these service areas are eligible to participate.\n\n\n"Terasen Gas works to keep customer rates as low as possible. Natural gas\ncommodity costs are passed on without mark up," said Jan Marston, Vice\nPresident, Gas Supply and Transmission. "No change has been requested to the\ncost of gas, which makes up about two thirds of a customer's monthly\nstatement. This follows the October 1, decrease of 5.9 per cent in the annual\nbills for these customers."\n\n\nFort Nelson residential customers could see an increase on their total\nannual gas bill of about 5.8 per cent, approximately $77 per year depending on\nconsumption levels. This marks the first increase in delivery rates for this\nservice region since 2004. Delivery volumes for the area have decreased over\nthe past four years resulting in a higher cost of service per customer.\n\n\nIf approved, the average residential customer on Vancouver Island, the\nSunshine Coast and in Powell River would see their total annual gas bill\nincrease by approximately 0.4 per cent or $4.00 per year depending on\nconsumption.\n\n\nNatural gas is a commodity traded on the open market like oil, coffee or\nlumber. Factors affecting the price of natural gas include weather, supply and\ndemand and the price of other energy commodities.\n\n\nAny change in Terasen Gas rates must be approved by the BCUC. The\napplications ask to have the increases take effect January 1, 2008.\n\n\nTerasen Gas is mainly composed of the operations of Terasen Gas Inc. and\nTerasen Gas (Vancouver Island) Inc., both indirect ...