As part of our mandate, we set the rates for the gas you use for your home or business if you're a customer of Enbridge Gas (including Union Gas Rate Zones) and EPCOR Natural Gas Limited Partnership. We also approve the rates these utilities charge to deliver natural gas to you. We do not set rates for Kitchener Utilities or Utilities Kingston.
We also do not regulate the prices that natural gas marketers charge in their contracts. Or what companies charge to rent, repair or maintain water heaters.
See a description of all of the charges that appear on your natural gas bill
Current gas rates for supply
| April 1, 2023 natural gas rates (view detailed rates below) | |
|---|---|
| Enbridge Gas Inc. - Union South Rate Zone * | 22.5958 ¢/m3 |
| Enbridge Gas Inc. | 15.2704 ¢/m3 |
| EPCOR Natural Gas Limited Partnership (Aylmer) ** | 23.8072 ¢/m3 |
** The rate for EPCOR includes storage and transportation charges.
To see how these natural gas rates relate to your overall bill, visit our natural gas bill calculator.
How often does the Ontario Energy Board set new rates?
We set rates for the natural gas that you use (supply) 4 times a year.
Natural gas is a commodity that is traded on North American markets. Market prices rise and fall based on current supply and demand. Major weather events can also affect the market price.
We don’t allow Enbridge and EPCOR to earn a profit on the sale of gas. They must pass through to you the price they pay to buy natural gas on the open market, with no markup.
Every 3 months, natural gas utilities ask us to adjust their supply rates to cover:
- Future costs. Utilities estimate how much gas they expect their customers to use, based on previous years. Then they estimate the market price for natural gas over the next 12-month period.
- Past costs. Utilities also review the difference between what they previously forecast their customers would pay and what their customers actually paid. This may be called the Gas Price Adjustment or Cost Adjustment on your bill. It can increase or lower the rate accordingly. For example, if a utility collected more from customers than it paid for gas in the past, the difference is credited back to customers through a lower rate. Likewise, if not enough was collected by the utility, the rate will be higher.
Because forecasting is done so far in advance of when utilities actually purchase natural gas, it is never exact. We adjust supply rates periodically throughout the year so there’s less likelihood you or the utility will owe a large amount at a given time.
Visit the current applications page to find out if your utility has applied to change your delivery rates. If so, you can:
- See what they’re asking for and why, and provide your comments online.
- See documents related to the case.
How are rates affected by a change in the seasons?
Time of year is another factor affecting costs. Because natural gas is a main source of heating in North America, it is usually more expensive in the winter months. Most utilities buy what they think they’ll need, based on forecasts, during the summer when the price is cheaper. Then they store the supply until winter and deliver it when you need it to heat your home or business.
If the weather isn’t exactly as predicted, it can have a significant impact on your rates. For example, if the winter is colder or longer than expected, the utility may have to buy extra supply, likely at a higher cost. Because the utility passes on the actual cost of gas, this extra cost will need to be collected from customers. Similarly, if the price is lower than forecast, this would result in a credit to customers.
Natural gas rates effective April 1, 2023
Each utility has different supply rates. Delivery rates also vary based on several factors, including their operating costs. This chart shows supply rates for each of the natural gas utilities whose rates we set.
- Backgrounder - Enbridge (pdf) (March 23, 2023)
- Backgrounder - EPCOR (pdf) (March 23, 2023)
Enbridge Gas Inc. - Union Gas Rate Zones
April 1, 2023 Natural Gas Rates
The OEB approved Enbridge Gas Inc.’s rates for the Union rate zones for April 1.
Effective April 1, 2023, the effective Gas Supply Charge (including gas supply cost quarterly adjustment) for the Union rate zones are:
|
Rate Zone |
Natural Gas Price ¢/m3 |
Gas Price Adjustment ¢/m3 |
Effective Price ¢/m3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Rate M1* | 15.6254 | 6.9704 | 22.5958 |
| North East Rate 01** | 15.9078 | 6.8249 | 22.7327 |
| North West Rate 01 | 14.1374 | -0.5576 | 13.5798 |
** The commodity rates for Union North East include a portion of the transportation costs.
Natural gas rates are based on a forward looking forecast for the next 12 months. Forecasts are never perfect, so the billed price is normally either higher or lower than the actual market price. The difference is tracked and passed on to consumers as a credit or a charge in subsequent quarterly rate adjustment applications.
Union Residential Rates (per month) effective April 1, 2023 (pdf)
Enbridge Gas Inc.
April 1, 2023 Natural Gas Rate Changes
The OEB approved Enbridge Gas Inc.’s rates for the Enbridge Gas Distribution (EGD) rate zone for April 1.
Effective April 1, 2023, the Gas Supply Charge (including gas supply cost quarterly adjustment) for the EGD rate zone = 15.2704¢ per m³
Natural gas rates are based on a forward looking forecast for the next 12 months. Forecasts are never perfect, so the billed price is normally either higher or lower than the actual market price. The difference is tracked in a special account and is adjusted with a credit or a charge in subsequent quarterly rate adjustment applications.
|
Natural Gas Price ¢/m3 |
Gas Supply Cost Adjustment ¢/m3 |
Effective Gas Supply Price ¢/m3 |
|---|---|---|
| 13.2318 | 2.0386 | 15.2704 |
Annual Bill Impact for an Average Residential Consumer (using 2,400 m3/year) = $(183.09)
Enbridge Residential Rates (per month) effective April 1, 2023 (pdf)
EPCOR Natural Gas Limited Partnership - Aylmer
April 1, 2023 Natural Gas Rates
EPCOR applied to the OEB to change the prices it will charge customers in Aylmer effective April 1, 2023.
The OEB approved the following commodity rates effective April 1, 2023.
Gas Commodity Charge (including quarterly adjustment) = 23.8072¢/m³
Annual Commodity Rate Impact for an Average Consumer (using 1,780 m³/year) = -$90.77
The OEB has approved updated Federal Carbon Charge and Facilities Carbon Charge. The annual bill impact due to changes to the updated Federal Carbon Charge and Facilities Carbon Charge for an Average Consumer = $46.28.
There are temporary rate riders expiring on April 1, 2023. The annual bill impact due to temporary rate riders = -$0.72.
Total Annual Bill impact for an Average Customer = -$45.20
The main reason for the commodity rate change is a decrease to the forecast price EPCOR expects to pay for natural gas over the next 12-month period.
Note: Natural gas rates are based on a forward-looking forecast for the next 12 months. Forecasts are never perfect, so the billed price is normally either higher or lower than the actual market price. The difference is tracked and passed on to consumers as a credit or a charge in subsequent quarterly rate adjustment applications.
EPCOR - Aylmer - Residential Rates (per month) effective April 1, 2023 (pdf)
EPCOR Natural Gas Limited Partnership - South Bruce
April 1, 2023 Natural Gas Rates
EPCOR applied to the OEB to change the prices it will charge customers in South Bruce effective April 1, 2023.
The OEB approved the following commodity rates effective April 1, 2023
Gas Commodity Charge (including quarterly adjustment) = 17.9915¢/m³
Annual Commodity Rate Impact for an Average Consumer (using 2,149 m³/year) = -$146.97.
The OEB has approved the changes to the federal carbon charge and introduced the facilities carbon charge. The annual bill impact due to changes to the federal carbon charge for an Average Consumer = $55.89.
Total Annual Bill impact for an Average Customer = -$91.07
The main reason for the commodity rate change is a decrease in the forecast price EPCOR- South Bruce expects to pay for natural gas over the next 12-month period and the difference between actual gas commodity prices and the prices that were estimated last quarter.
Note: Natural gas rates are based on a forward-looking forecast for the next 12 months. Forecasts are never perfect, so the billed price is normally either higher or lower than the actual market price. The difference is tracked and passed on to consumers as a credit or a charge in subsequent quarterly rate adjustment applications.
EPCOR - South Bruce - Residential Rates (per month) effective January 1, 2023 (pdf)
Calculate your natural gas bill
Utilities deliver natural gas to your home or business and they also issue your bills. Use our calculator to estimate your monthly natural gas bill. You can also compare your current bill with a contract offer from a natural gas marketer.