TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 12/19/14 -- Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. (Enbridge) has received approval from the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) for new rates, effective January 1, 2015. These rates are approved on an interim basis.
Residential customers(i) will see an increase of about 6.5 per cent or about $63 a year ($5.25 per month). As a result, the total bill for a typical customer will be about $1,034 a year. In January, there will be a one-time refund of about $16 to reflect the difference between 2014 interim rates and final approved rates(ii). Natural gas continues to provide the best value to customers, with the typical customer's total annual bill still less than it was 10 years ago.
The increase is primarily due to higher transportation and delivery costs, and a cost adjustment. The increased transportation and delivery costs (about $37 per year) are for the most part from a recent decision of the National Energy Board (NEB) approving a settlement agreement that facilitates long-term access to abundant and potentially cheaper natural gas supplies closer to Ontario. The cost adjustment is for the difference between the forecasted gas supply costs and the actual prices paid for gas supply.
Enbridge doesn't earn a profit on the price of natural gas. Gas supply costs are passed through to customers without any mark-up. Any difference between forecast costs and actual costs is either collected from, or returned to, customers through a cost adjustment.
"The NEB's approval of our settlement agreement with TransCanada provides us with more diverse and competitive supply options for the longer term," says Jamie LeBlanc, Director, Enbridge Gas Distribution.
As the colder weather approaches, Enbridge reminds customers that there are options to help manage energy bills:
-- Join the Budget Billing Plan to spread annual natural gas costs over 11
months. Register at enbridgegas.com/bbp or call 1-877-362-7434.
-- For qualifying customers:
-- Enbridge supports the OEB's Low-Income Energy Assistance Program
(LEAP) which provides emergency financial assistance towards past
due energy bills.
-- The Home Winterproofing Program helps eligible low-income customers
lower their energy costs and make their homes healthier and more
energy efficient. Qualifying customers may have free energy
efficiency upgrades, such as insulation, installed to reduce their
energy costs. Learn more at enbridgegas.com/winterproofing.
-- Customers who are having trouble paying their bills should call Enbridge
as soon as possible to set up payment arrangements.
-- Customers can find more energy efficiency tips at
enbridgegas.com/energyefficiency.
About Enbridge Gas Distribution
Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. has a more than 160-year history and is Canada's largest natural gas distribution company. It is owned by Enbridge Inc., a Canadian-based leader in energy transportation and distribution and one of the 2013 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations. Enbridge Inc. has been selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers for 2013 and is one of Canada's Top 100 Employers. Enbridge Gas Distribution and its affiliates distribute natural gas to two million customers in Ontario, Quebec, New York State and New Brunswick. For more information, visit www.enbridgegas.com or follow us on Twitter @EnbridgeGasNews.
(i) Calculations are based on the assumption that a typical residential customer, who buys their gas supply and transportation from Enbridge, uses about 2,400 cubic metres of natural gas a year for home and water heating. Enbridge updated the typical use to reflect the energy efficiency gains realized by our customers over the last decade. The previous benchmark was 3,064 cubic metres per year.
(ii) This refund reflects the difference between our interim and final rates for volumes consumed from January 1, 2014 and September 30, 2014. Our final rates for 2014 were approved by the OEB on August 22, 2014.Contact:
Contacts:
Elizabeth Blair
1-855-884-5112
enbridgegasmedia@enbridge.com
Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc.
