No increase to natural-gas prices: BCUC

Some good news as the temperature dips and Vancouver Islanders start turning up the thermostats in their homes.

The B.C. Utilities Commission has approved FortisBC’s request to hold natural gas rates at their current level for the rest of this year.

FortisBC said customers will see no change to the cost of gas on their billing statement as of Oct. 1.

The cost of propane rates will also be maintained for customers in Revelstoke.

“Our customers can be assured that for the rest of the year, the cost of gas rate is holding steady,” said Diane Roy, vicepresident of regulatory affairs at FortisBC.

“With winter heating season coming up, it’s also a good reminder to service your natural gas appliances and take advantage of many rebates we have to offer when it’s time to upgrade.”

Every three months, FortisBC reviews the cost of gas rates with the BCUC to ensure rates passed on to customers cover the cost of purchasing the natural gas on their behalf.

In Victoria and the rest of Vancouver Island, the rate will remain at $2.05 per gigajoule.

The price will also be the same — $2.05 per gigajoule — in the rate regions of the Lower Mainland, Whistler, Fraser Valley, B.C. Interior, Northern B.C. and the Kootenays.