Frequently Asked Questions about Rate Changes

Gas costs - Gas commodity costs include information on the “Gas Supply Charge” and “Cost Adjustment” lines on your bill. The net natural gas rate reflects what we expect to pay for gas supplies and transportation services during the next year as well as any adjustments to make up the difference between our forecast cost for gas and actual costs from prior periods. Also, in the Union South rate zone (Rate M1 and M2), the cost of transportation to Ontario is included in the “Gas Supply Charge”.

Transportation costs - Transportation costs include information on the “Transportation to Enbridge” and “Cost Adjustment” lines on your bill and reflect the cost of transporting natural gas into Ontario from its North American sources.

Transportation costs vary depending on where you live due to changing fuel prices, pipeline tolls and available capacity on pipelines serving different parts of Ontario. For customers in the Union South zone (Rate M1 and M2), the transportation cost is included in the “Gas Supply Charge” line on your bill.

Delivery costs - Delivery costs include information on the “Delivery to You” line on your bill and reflect the cost of delivering natural gas to your home or business as well as an adjustment to make up the difference between our forecast and actual delivery rates from prior periods, through our safe and reliable distribution system. This charge also includes a facility carbon charge related to the federal government’s carbon pricing program and is associated with the costs to operate Enbridge Gas’ facilities to deliver natural gas to you.

Storage costs (for Union rate zone customers) - Storage costs include information on the “Delivery to You” line on your bill and reflect the cost of storing natural gas so it is available when you need it.

Customer Charge - The customer charge partially covers the cost of maintaining a safe and reliable natural gas distribution system. It includes things like meter reading, customer services and 24-hour emergency response.

Federal Carbon Charge - The federal carbon charge has increased from 12.39 to 15.25 cents per cubic meter of natural gas. This charge increases annually each April. All of the money collected for this charge goes to the government. Visit our federal carbon charge page for more information.

Charges from Other Companies - Enbridge Gas provides a billing service to other companies that offer energy-related products and services. These companies are not owned by or affiliated with Enbridge Gas. If you decide to buy a product or service from a participating company, the charges will appear on the section of your bill called Charges from Other Companies. Enbridge Gas does not recommend, endorse or guarantee the products or services offered by such companies.

Enbridge Gas will be ending this billing service. Your service provider(s) may ask you to provide payment information directly to them. Visit Charges From Other Companies (Open Bill Program) | Enbridge Gas for more information.

As part of the federal government's carbon pricing program, a carbon charge applies to fossil fuels sold in Ontario, including natural gas. Effective April 1, 2024, the federal carbon charge is 15.25 cents per cubic meter of natural gas. This charge increases annually each April. The federal carbon charge is included on customers’ bills, with the exception of customer facilities that hold an exemption certificate issued by the federal government.

There is also a facility carbon charge included in the delivery or transportation charge on your bill. This charge is associated with the costs to operate Enbridge Gas' facilities. Effective April 1, 2024, the facility carbon charge has decreased from 0.0157 to 0.0143 cents/m³.

For the average Ontario household, the federal carbon charge accounts for approximately $336-$366 of your annual natural gas bill.

All of the money that we collect for the federal carbon charge goes to the federal government. Learn more about the federal carbon pricing program from the Government of Canada.

Yes, on April 1, 2024, Enbridge Gas changed the rates our customers pay.

Details for the most recent rate change include:

• A decrease in the price we expect to pay to buy natural gas supplies in the coming year.
• A decrease in the delivery charge to update our forecasted costs to provide services in the coming year.
• A decrease in the price we expect to pay for transportation services from the market in the coming year.
• Previously approved increases in the federal carbon charge for 2024. This includes the disposal of the 2022 FCPP-related deferral and variance account balances as a one-time adjustment.
• The disposal of the 2022 deferral and variance account balances as a one-time adjustment.
• Cost adjustments for the difference between our forecast costs and the actual costs from prior periods.

Residential customers who buy natural gas from Enbridge Gas will see a decrease in their natural gas bills ranging from about $50 (-4.2%) to $107 (-9.4%) per year, depending on location. The overall impact of these changes will depend on how much gas you use and whether you purchase your gas from a gas marketer.

Enbridge Gas buys natural gas and gas transportation services for our customers from the market and we pass these costs to you without mark-up. Delivery and storage rates are reviewed and approved by the Ontario Energy Board, which conducts an open review process with participation from consumer groups and Ontario municipalities.

Please visit our residential rates section to view the rates specific to you and the area where you live.

Because natural gas is a commodity, the market price can fluctuate with changes in the amount of readily available supply or in the level of demand for the product. A warmer than normal winter season and healthy supply and inventory levels have contributed to this market price decrease. We adjust customer prices for market fluctuations every three months to reflect changes in the market price.

Enbridge Gas adjusts the rates customers pay for natural gas every three months (subject to OEB approval), based on a forecast of what we expect natural gas market prices will be in the coming months. We then adjust for the difference between our forecast and actual costs from prior periods through a quarterly cost adjustment. In some rate zones, this adjustment will result in an overall bill decrease.

Enbridge Gas buys natural gas at a number of market supply hubs in Western Canada and the U.S. We pay market prices for natural gas and then pay other pipeline companies to transport the gas from supply hubs into our distribution system in Ontario. We adjust the rates we charge our customers for these items quarterly to reflect changes in market prices, which are passed through to our customers without mark-up. In addition, there are adjustments for the difference between our forecast for natural gas and natural gas transportation market prices, storage and distribution costs and the actual costs from prior periods.

Different areas of the province are served by a different mix of natural gas transportation pipelines and gas supply sources, and as such, the costs for Enbridge Gas to buy gas supplies and transportation services from the market vary by location. In addition, the costs to build and maintain a distribution pipeline system varies by the geographic location for several reasons including different soil conditions (e.g. rockier soil in the north), population density and the distance between homes/businesses and the need for and timing of infrastructure expansions and maintenance. These costs differences are reflected in the four geographically based rate zones.

You’ll see two general types of natural gas rate changes during the calendar year. The first type occurs quarterly, on the first of January, April, July and October, to reflect changes in what Enbridge Gas expects to pay for gas commodity and transportation services, as well as differences between forecast and actual costs for prior periods. This is shown as a change in the gas commodity and transportation rates on your bill and may also appear as a small change in delivery rates as Enbridge Gas also uses natural gas to power our delivery system. These changes, which are passed through to you without mark-up, help ensure that you’re billed at a rate that closely reflects the expected market price of gas.

The second type of rate change occurs annually and reflects the overall costs to run a safe and reliable natural gas distribution system. This may include a change in the delivery or storage rates, or the customer charge, depending on your location.

In addition, as part of the federal government's carbon pricing program, a carbon charge applies to fossil fuels sold in Ontario, including natural gas. The federal carbon charge increases annually each April.

All rate changes are approved by the Ontario Energy Board.

EMPP spreads your forecasted yearly natural gas costs into 12 monthly payments to avoid fluctuating bills with the seasons, making it easier on your budget. We take your gas use history, expected gas rates and weather forecasts to estimate your yearly gas use. We then divide your estimated yearly gas use into 12 installment payments. Your bill every month is your installment payment as well as any Charges from other Companies or Other Enbridge Charges, if applicable. We’ll review your plan periodically to make sure you’re on track and adjust your installment amount if needed. At the end of your plan, the EMPP balance should be nearing $0. While we do our best to ensure that your gas charges and EMPP installment match closely, any cost difference that exceeds the average monthly billing will roll over the balance due to the following year’s equal monthly payment plan.

If you buy natural gas and/or transportation services from an energy marketer, the price you pay for your gas supplies and/or transportation depends on the terms of the contract and is excluded from this rate change. If you have questions about their charges, please contact them directly at the number found on your bill. For other services purchased from Enbridge Gas (natural gas transportation, storage and delivery), residential customer rate changes depend on your location.

The rates we charge customers for natural gas and gas transportation services are based on a forecast of the prices we expect to pay to buy these items from the market. Because the actual market costs can differ from our forecasts, adjustments are made quarterly (Jan. 1, April 1, July 1 and Oct. 1) to either refund or collect the difference so that you only pay the actual costs for these services and nothing more. These costs are passed on to customers without any mark-up. The October cost adjustment change will result in some customers seeing an overall bill decrease.

Natural gas is a highly reliable energy source and more cost-effective energy solution for heating your home or business as compared to electric resistance, oil or propane.

Enbridge Gas is committed to helping homes and businesses manage their gas bills. Enbridge Gas offers a range of energy-conservation information and programs that can help you lower your natural gas use and save money. See our upgrade and rebate programs.

If you have concerns about paying your bill, support is available:

Enhanced payment plans. If more time is needed to pay a balance, you can arrange to make installment payments against a balance and avoid late payment fees and disconnection.

Low Income Energy Assistance Plan (LEAP). Low-income customers having trouble paying their bill may qualify for emergency relief through LEAP. The program provides emergency relief with financial grants of up to $500 per calendar year for eligible low-income customers. This amount is applied directly to the outstanding balance on a customer’s gas bill and will vary based on account circumstances. Customers can visit the United Way Simcoe Muskoka website for qualification information.

Equal Monthly Payment Plan (EMPP). Many households spend the most amount of money on natural gas during the three coldest months of the year. In the summer, they spend the least. The EMPP divides your expected yearly natural gas costs into monthly payments to minimize bills that fluctuate with the seasons, making it easier on your budget.