Average Manitoba gas bill going up 12% after regulator approves rate hike
Typical residential customers projected to pay $73 more for gas yearly after increase: Public Utilities Board
Overall gas bills for most residential customers in Manitoba are set to go up by more than 10 per cent for the year after a rate increase coming into effect next month.
The Public Utilities Board has approved an application by Centra Gas Manitoba that it projects will raise the annual bill for the typical residential customer by 12.4 per cent, or about $73 per year, with rate changes effective May 1.
The board's decision, released Thursday, said the rate increase is based on factors including increased North American demand for gas during a colder 2024-25 winter and increased demand for liquefied natural gas exports.
The decision says the board acknowledges the increase "may result in difficulty for some residential and other customers in paying their bills," and adds it expects Centra Gas to continue working with customers who are struggling to pay energy bills through things like payment arrangements or equal payment plan enrolments.
The latest increase comes after the PUB approved a 2.6 per cent increase effective Feb. 1, amounting to $15 more a year for the typical customer.
The Centra Gas rates are reviewed and approved quarterly. The next rate adjustment will be Aug. 1.
Customers on fixed-price contracts with either gas marketers or Centra are not affected by the gas commodity rate hike.