In addition to astronomically high pump prices, British Columbians can expect a forthcoming increase to their home gas bills..FortisBC said residential customers living on the Mainland and Vancouver Island will see their prices increased by $1.40 per gigajoule (GJ), which works out to an average $11 increase per month..Those living in Fort Nelson will see a $1.38 increase per GJ, averaging out to an $14 extra per month for each household..The BC Utilities Commission approved the increase following FortisBC’s request to do so..The commission is an independent regulatory body responsible for BC’s energy utilities, compulsory automobile insurance rates, and provincial pipeline rates..Reiterating that it doesn’t mark up the cost of gas, FortisBC says the increase is a result of current global market conditions..“This coming quarter, the cost of gas is going up due to rising gas commodity costs driven by global market conditions,” said Joe Mazza, vice president of FortisBC..Mazza says the price of natural gas is at a 10-year high, not just in Canada, but internationally, and FortisBC further highlights the war in Ukraine as a cause..Many countries have axed energy exports from Russia, which produces a significant amount of oil and gas..“We have taken a number of measures, such as investing in or buying gas from a variety of sources to help protect our customers as much as possible from these market highs,” said Mazza..Mainland and Vancouver Island residents can read the commission’s order here, and Fort Nelson residents here.
