- What is renewable natural gas?
Renewable natural gas is derived from biogas, which is produced from decomposing organic waste from landfills or agricultural waste (such as cow or chicken manure). When captured and cleaned, renewable natural gas (also called biomethane) can be injected into the existing natural gas pipeline system. It is a carbon-neutral substitute for conventional natural gas and can be used in all natural gas appliances.
- How does it work?
Once upgraded, biomethane is interchangeable with natural gas. No changes are required to customer appliances, and biomethane can be delivered using our existing pipeline infrastructure.
- How do I sign up for renewable natural gas?
You can sign up for renewable natural gas by logging in to your Account Online, and clicking on the renewable natural gas enrolment link.
Alternatively, you can call us at 1-888-224-2710 to sign up. If your residence is eligible, your enrolment will be complete and effective on the 1st of the following month. Note that if you apply within one week of the start of the next month, your successful enrolment will commence the following month.
- How will I receive renewable natural gas?
Because renewable natural gas is interchangeable with conventional natural gas, it can be injected into FortisBC’s natural gas distribution system, displacing conventional natural gas. Customers who sign up for renewable natural gas continue to draw conventional natural gas from the pipeline, but will have 10 per cent of their consumption designated as renewable natural gas. We'll then inject the equivalent amount of renewable natural gas into our system, which in turn displaces conventional natural gas that would have otherwise been brought into the system for your household’s use.
- If I sign up for renewable natural gas and my neighbour doesn’t, will we both receive a mixture of natural gas and biomethane to our homes?
The location of production facilities will determine where renewable natural gas will physically be introduced to the FortisBC system. Customers signing up for the renewable natural gas rate may not receive actual renewable natural gas at their home, but instead are contributing to the injection of the same amount of renewable natural gas into FortisBC’s system. Therefore, you are displacing conventional natural gas that would have otherwise been brought into the system for your household’s use with renewable natural gas.
- Is it safe?
Yes. Renewable natural gas is composed primarily of methane – the same primary component of natural gas.
- Will my appliances be affected?
No. FortisBC will ensure that renewable natural gas meets the same quality standards as conventional natural gas. There will be no noticeable difference.
- Do I need any special equipment?
No. FortisBC will ensure that renewable natural gas meets the same quality standards as conventional natural gas. There will be no noticeable difference.
- Will my Equal Payment Plan (EPP) amount change if I sign up for renewable natural gas?
There will be no immediate change to your Equal Payment Plan installment amount. However, the plan will still be reviewed quarterly against current usage and rates, and may be adjusted at those times.
- Will I still have to pay the carbon tax if I sign up for the renewable natural gas rate?
Since renewable natural gas is considered carbon neutral, the BC carbon tax amount will be credited by 10 per cent. The revised amount will appear on your FortisBC natural gas bill each month.
- Is FortisBC the first to offer such a program?
In 2010, FortisBC became the first utility in Canada to receive approval from its regulator, the BC Utilities Commission, to invest in biogas upgrading and interconnection infrastructure in order to inject renewable natural gas produced through decomposition of organic materials into the natural gas distribution system.
FortisBC is the first utility in North America to introduce a renewable natural gas offering to residential customers.
- What are the greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits?
Renewable natural gas is considered carbon neutral in BC. It will help reduce your GHG emissions by displacing fossil fuel natural gas, which has a carbon intensity of 50 kg of carbon dioxide per gigajoule. Additionally, emissions are reduced when methane is captured and re-purposed as renewable natural gas, rather than being released directly into atmosphere. Equivalent carbon dioxide from methane emissions may be reduced by up to 21 times.*
*Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report (2007), Table 2.14.
- When will the program be expanded to other regions and rate classes?
FortisBC will phase in renewable natural gas as supplies become available and customer interest grows. Renewable natural gas is currently available to residential Rate 1 customers in the Lower Mainland, Inland (Interior and North) and Columbia (Kootenays) regions.
Future phases are planned to expand the offering to commercial customers and to other service areas in British Columbia.
- What happens if I move?
You may elect to remain on the Renewable Natural Gas rate if your new residence is eligible.
Don’t see an answer to your question? Call us: 1-888-224-2710.
- How is renewable natural gas carbon neutral?
The Government of British Columbia considers biomethane from organic waste (including agriculture, landfill or wastewater sources) to be a carbon-neutral fuel source. In the case of renewable natural gas, this means that both combustion and lifecycle emissions do not contribute any net greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The combustion of biomethane releases biogenic carbon dioxide, which is not additional to the natural carbon cycle.
- Who is Offsetters?
Offsetters is Canada’s leading carbon management solutions provider. They independently reviewed FortisBC’s renewable natural gas offering and assessed the expected lifecycle emissions savings of the program. Learn more about Offsetters.
- Do gas marketers offer eco-friendly products?
Yes, some of them do. Our list of gas marketers will allow you to research the ones that have an eco-friendly offering.