Residential customers who buy natural gas from Enbridge Gas in North Bay,, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, Elliot Lake and other parts of northeastern Ontario will pay about $20 more annually after this month.
"This change reflects forecasted increases in North American market prices for natural gas supplies and the cost to transport natural gas from Western Canada and the U.S. into Ontario," said Enbridge (formerly Union) Gas in an announcement to residential and business customers.
"In addition, there are changes in delivery rates which were previously approved by the Ontario Energy Board, to reflect the expected costs to safely and reliably deliver natural gas to homes and business in 2020."
The new prices for natural gas take effect Jan. 1, 2020.
The $20 increase for a typical household using 2,200 cubic metres of natural gas a year will represent an increase of about two per cent for northeastern Ontario customers.
Rate increases that took effect Nov. 1, 2019, hiked typical annual residential gas bills by $1.96.
The company's residential bills in northwestern Ontario will rise about $18 a year,
In southern Ontario, residential rates will rise just six to eight per cent.
"Small commercial customers who buy natural gas from the utility will see changes ranging from a decrease of $27 to an increase of $513 per year depending on location," the utility said.
"Natural gas continues to be the most affordable energy solution for homes and business, saving households up to $1,800 per year on home and water heating versus electricity, oil or propane, Our customers can save even more by leveraging Enbridge Gas energy-efficiency rebate programs," said Malini Giridhar, Enbridge's vice president of business development and regulatory.
Enbridge Gas Inc. was created one year ago from a marriage of Union Gas Ltd. and Enbridge Gas Distribution.
Its distribution arm heats more than 75 per cent of Ontario homes and boasts 3.7 million customers.
