May 1, 2024
The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has approved changes to the rates Enbridge Gas charges its customers effective Jan. 1, 2024. The new interim rates will be charged beginning May 1, 2024 and will replace the rates communicated in April.
Please visit our residential rates sections to view the rates specific to your location.
Yes, on May 1, 2024, Enbridge Gas changed the rates our customers pay. Details for the most recent rate change include:
- An increase in the customer charge which partially covers some of the fixed costs of maintaining a safe and reliable natural gas distribution system. This increase is also a result of a redistribution of costs from our delivery to you charge to the customer charge for Rate 1, Rate M1 and Rate 01.
- A decrease in the delivery charge due to a redistribution of costs from our delivery to you charge to our customer charge.
- Changes in the transportation and gas supply charges are based on changes to Enbridge Gas’ 2024 rates.
- A decrease in the total bill related to rate adjustments to
1) reflect the changes to 2024 rates from Jan. 1 – April 30, 2024, Rider E and
2) the clearance of various deferral and variance account balances, Rider D.
Typical residential customers who buy natural gas from the utility will see a decrease in their natural gas bills ranging from about $1 (-0.1%) to $11 (-1.0%) per year, depending on location. The overall impact of these changes, which include the impacts of Rider E and Rider D, will depend on how much natural gas you use and whether or not 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.
On April 1, 2024, Enbridge Gas adjusted the rates customers pay to reflect changes in the expected market price of natural gas supplies and transportation services. We buy these items from the market and adjust the related rates every three months (January, April, July and October). This current rate change reflects changes in expected costs to store natural gas and deliver it to customers through our distribution system in 2024. Delivery rates are set once a year, subject to approval by the Ontario Energy Board, which conducts a public review process.
These rate changes are effective as of Jan. 1, 2024 and will be recovered from customers between May 1 and Dec. 31, 2024.
Enbridge Gas adjusts customer delivery rates to reflect the expected costs to deliver natural gas safely and reliably to Ontario homes and business. Following the 2024 cost of service application, the OEB approved the fair and reasonable regulated distribution, transmission and storage rates that Enbridge Gas will charge customers in 2024 to recover the costs of serving our customers safely and reliably.
The costs of delivering natural gas to customers is recovered in our customer charge and delivery charges. The customer charge has increased to partially recover some of the fixed costs associated with maintaining a safe and reliable natural gas distribution system in 2024. For Rate 1, Rate M1 and Rate 01 the monthly customer charge has also increased to recover a redistribution of costs from the delivery to you charge to the monthly customer charge. This has resulted in a corresponding decrease in our 2024 delivery charges for these rate classes.
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 is 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 is 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 government. Learn more about the federal carbon pricing program from the Government of Canada.
There are two rate rider adjustments as part of the May 1, 2024 rate change which are effective from May 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024. The first rate rider adjustment is to reflect the changes to 2024 rates for the period from Jan. 1 – April 30, 2024. This change in rates will be recovered through Rider E. The second rate rider adjustment reflects the approval of the clearance of various deferral and variance account balances disposed of through Rider D which will be included in the delivery to you charge on your bill from May 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2024.
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.
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 $650 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.
