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 (effective October 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) (September 21, 2023)
- Backgrounder - EPCOR (pdf) (September 21, 2023)
| Utility Name | Gas Supply Charge | Detailed Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Enbridge Gas Inc. - Union South Rate Zone* | 22.3935 ¢/m3 | View detailed rates (pdf) |
| Enbridge Gas Inc. - Union North East Rate Zone** | 19.6333 ¢/m3 | View detailed rates (pdf) |
| Enbridge Gas Inc. - Union North West Rate Zone | 13.5225 ¢/m3 | View detailed rates (pdf) |
| Enbridge Gas Inc. | 16.8752 ¢/m3 | View detailed rates (pdf) |
| EPCOR Natural Gas Limited Partnership (Aylmer)*** | 22.9411 ¢/m3 | View detailed rates (pdf) |
| EPCOR Natural Gas Limited Partnership (South Bruce) | 16.3574 ¢/m3 | View detailed rates (pdf) |
*** The commodity rates for EPCOR (Aylmer) include 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.
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.