Cap-and-trade will raise natural gas bills across province: Ontario Energy Board

TORONTO – The Ontario Energy board says customers across the province will see increases in their natural gas bills as the Liberal government’s cap-and-trade plan comes into effect next month.

The OEB says the typical Enbridge residential customer will see a monthly increase of about $6.40.

For Union Gas customers, the OEB says they can expect to pay between $4.65 and $13.54 more a month depending on which zone they live in.

READ MORE: Cost of cap-and-trade for Ontario consumers beginning Jan. 1, 2017

The OEB says a typical NRG customer will see a $6.98 increase on their monthly gas bill.

Under cap-and-trade, Enbridge, Union Gas and NRG are required to manage their own business operations and buy allowances to cover the emissions that their customers – including Ontario households and small businesses – produce.

READ MORE: Ontario premier reflects on hydro, road tolls and cap-and-trade ahead of 2018 election

The OEB says that despite these increases customers will still be paying “significantly less” than they were in peak periods in 2009 and 2014 due to factors such as high market prices and unusually cold weather.

Both Union Gas and Enbridge have indicated they will be meeting the OEB’s expectation to include an on-bill message about cap and trade, which includes a direct link to information about cap and trade costs on their websites.