Common rates
FortisBC has applied to the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) to amalgamate its three natural gas utilities into one legal entity and implement common rates across BC.
If approved, the proposal would mean customers on the Sunshine Coast, including Powell River, Vancouver Island and in Whistler would see lower rates.
Typical residential customers on the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island would see a decrease of about $262 to their annual bill, while typical residential customers in Whistler would see a decrease of about $623 to their annual bill.
Currently, FortisBC provides natural gas to customers across the province under three separate legal entities with entity-specific rate structures. These separate legal entities were formed as various natural gas utilities were acquired across the province. Each entity is responsible for providing natural gas service in different areas of the province and customer rates differ based on which region of the province a customer lives in.
Under the proposal, which must be approved by BCUC, all the utilities would be merged and gas rates in all those regions would be identical.
“We are proposing to bring all of our natural gas utilities together which will allow FortisBC to offer consistent natural gas rates and services across the province,” said Scott Thomson, FortisBC finance vice-president, in a news release. “If our application is approved, each customer in a given customer class will be charged the same rate, regardless of where they live.”
If the BCUC approves the application, the amalgamation and blended price would begin on January 1, 2013.
