FortisBC rates for electricity customers increasing by nearly 4% next month
Residents of B.C.'s Southern Interior will soon be paying more for electricity.
FortisBC, which provides electricity in the region, announced Wednesday that it has received interim approval from the B.C. Utilities Commission to raise its rates by 3.98 per cent starting Jan. 1.
The utility says the increase will cost the average customer about $7.62 per month, though individual bills will see higher or lower increases depending on usage.
The need for the increase stems from "a growing market demand for power" and ongoing investment in the company's delivery system, said Joe Mazza, FortisBC's vice president of energy supply and resource development, in the announcement.
"We’re very conscious that any rate increase can be a concern for our customers," Mazza added. "We’ve been able to find savings in our operations to offset some of this cost and lower the increase that would have otherwise been needed for 2023."
The BCUC's interim approval means the company can proceed with the increase. The commission is expected to make a final decision on rates "later in 2023," according to FortisBC.
The company also noted that, beginning in January, all residential customers will see a single rate on their bills. The company has been phasing out its usage-based, two-tiered rate system since 2019.
NATURAL GAS RATES DROPPING
Rates for FortisBC's natural gas service are set via a different process, and are reviewed by the BCUC regularly.
On Thursday, the company announced that the BCUC's quarterly review of its gas rates would result in a four-per-cent decrease in costs for most customers beginning Jan. 1.
FortisBC estimates that the change will equate to savings of about $4 per month, depending on consumption.
“Customers will see an overall decrease because the cost of gas has gone down,” said Mazza in Thursday's announcement.
“It's important to remember, however, that rates reflect more than just the price of the commodity. Our rates also factor in important infrastructure upgrades and maintenance to our system to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of energy to our customers.”
The company's service area for natural gas is much larger than the area where it delivers electricity. Customers in nearly every region of the province – including Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, and the Interior – will see their rates decrease in the new year, according to FortisBC.
The exception is the province's northeast corner. FortisBC customers in Fort Nelson will see a small overall increase in costs, roughly one per cent or $1 per month, depending on usage, the company said.
BC HYDRO CUSTOMERS TO SEE INCREASE IN APRIL
BC Hydro, which provides electricity for most of the rest of the province, received interim approval from the BCUC for a 1.4-per-cent decrease to its rates back in March.
That decrease took effect April 1, and was part of a three-year rate plan. The plan calls for increases of 2 per cent on April 1, 2023 and 2.7 per cent on April 1, 2024.
As of Wednesday, the BCUC website indicated that consideration for final approval of BC Hydro's rate plan was still "in progress."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.