Image: Supplied by FortisBC / FortisBC announced earlier this month that monthly gas bills for Fraser Valley customers, including Chilliwack and Abbotsford, will decrease by approximately 4 per cent, or $4 per month, starting in January 2023.
FortisBC

FortisBC monthly gas bills to drop $4/month in 2023

Dec 29, 2022 | 8:57 AM

CHILLIWACK — In a year that saw near-record inflation, rising food costs, and seven benchmark interest rate increases, FortisBC is doing the opposite this coming year.

The energy provider announced earlier this month that monthly gas bills for Fraser Valley customers will decrease by about four per cent, or $4 per month on average, starting in 2023.

In a December 8 news release, FortisBC said that most of its gas customers in British Columbia will see an overall decrease starting Jaunuary 1.

“Customers will see an overall decrease because the cost of gas has gone down,” said Joe Mazza, vice-president of energy supply and resource development with FortisBC. “It’s important to remember, however, that rates reflect more than just the price of the commodity. Our rates also factor in important infrastructure upgrades and maintenance to our system to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of energy to our customers.”

The publicly-regulated company says it reviews its delivery and storage and transport rates each year, along with its cost of gas rate, each quarter with the B.C. Utilities Commission.

“This is done to ensure that the rates charged to customers appropriately recover the costs related to delivering energy safely and reliably,” FortisBC wrote in the release.

Fraser Valley customers aren’t the only ones benefitting from the price decrease. Residential customers in the Lower Mainland, Interior, North, Whistler, Vancouver Island, Revelstoke, and the Kootenays will also see an overall monthly decrease of approximately four per cent, or $4 per month.

While the costs related to storing, transporting and delivering gas typically remain in place for the year, FortisBC reviews the cost of gas every quarter with the BCUC and the next review will be in March 2023.