Change in gas rates for FortisBC customers on January 1

Dec 9, 2025

Rate changes support improvements to the gas system

SURREY, B.C.—December 9, 2025: FortisBC Energy Inc. (FortisBC) has received approval from the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) to increase gas rates starting January 1, 2026. This will enable FortisBC to continue delivering safe, reliable energy and expand programs that help customers save energy and manage costs. The average residential gas customer will see an overall increase to their bill of about 11.1 per cent, or around $10.95 more per month based on a monthly consumption of about 7.5 gigajoules (GJ). Individual bills will vary based on use.

These rate changes support critical upgrades to keep the gas system safe and reliable, as well as increased funding for energy-efficiency rebate programs that help customers lower their bills over time. This includes several approved and completed projects such as the Inland Gas Upgrades, Gibsons Capacity Upgrade, Coastal Transmission System Upgrades, the Pattullo Gas Line Replacement and Gas Advanced Metering Infrastructure projects. In addition, continued investments in conservation and energy-efficiency programs help customers save energy. The changes to FortisBC’s rates also reflect necessary investments in maintenance and upgrades that ensure the safety and reliability of the gas system that delivers energy to customers.

As a critical energy provider regulated by the BCUC, FortisBC reviews its delivery and storage and transport rates each year and its cost of gas rate each quarter with the BCUC. This is done to help ensure the rates charged to customers appropriately recover the costs related to delivering energy safely and reliably. There is no mark up on the cost of gas; customers pay what FortisBC pays. To help reduce costs for its customers, FortisBC purchases gas in the summer when prices are lower and stores it so that lower-cost gas is available to customers in winter months when they need it. In addition, FortisBC sells any surplus gas back to the market to further offset costs and passes those savings on to its customers.

“In addition to the safety and reliability of the energy that we deliver, we know that access to affordable energy is important to the families and businesses we serve," said Michelle Carman, vice president of customer service and external communications. “Our team is here to help with billing questions, payment options and tips to save energy.” 

FortisBC has lots of information on its website that customers may find helpful. For tips on saving energy, information on rebates and ways to lower energy bills, visit fortisbc.com/saveenergy.

In addition, customers who have questions about their bill are encouraged to reach out by phone at 1-888-224-2710 or email at [email protected]. FortisBC’s customer service team is here to help with:

• Personalized payment plans
• Tips and tools to save energy, such as My energy use, through Account Online
• Answers to customers’ billing questions

As of January 1, 2026:

Residential customers throughout B.C., excluding Fort Nelson

• Residential customers will see an overall change on their bill of about $10.95 per month based on average monthly household consumption of approximately 7.5 GJ, or about 11.1 per cent.

Fort Nelson

• Residential customers in Fort Nelson will see an overall change on their bill of about $13.23 per month based on average monthly household consumption of approximately 10.5 GJ, or about 11.5 per cent.

For more information about rates and the components that make up a FortisBC gas bill, visit fortisbc.com/rates

Backgrounder

Historical data for Mainland and Vancouver Island (including North and South Interior, Whistler)

Items on a residential gas customer’s bill

Basic charge

The basic charge is a flat fee that partially recovers the fixed costs of FortisBC’s system, whether or not a customer is using any gas, as long as they are connected to the system.

Delivery charge

The delivery charge is based on consumption and pays for the cost of safely and reliably delivering gas through FortisBC’s system to a customer’s home or business. This helps cover the costs of maintaining the gas distribution system, provides a modest return to FortisBC’s investors and funds improvements to meet customers' needs. Delivery charges are reviewed by the BCUC annually.

Storage and transport

The storage and transport charge is what FortisBC pays to other companies to store and transport gas through their pipelines and infrastructure. It also includes the cost of the designated Renewable Natural Gas¹ blend. FortisBC does not mark up the cost of storage and transport, and it is reviewed quarterly and set annually by the BCUC.

Cost of gas

Every three months, FortisBC reviews the cost of gas rates with the BCUC to make sure rates passed on to customers cover the cost of the commodity purchased on their behalf. The next review will be in March 2026. FortisBC does not mark up the cost of gas, so customers pay what it pays. Factors affecting the market price of natural gas in North America include weather, supply and demand, and economic conditions.

Other charges and taxes

Other charges and taxes include the B.C. clean energy levy, Goods and Services Tax and, in some municipalities, a municipal operating fee. These charges are set by various levels of government and collected by FortisBC on behalf of its customers. FortisBC does not gain revenue from these charges.

¹Renewable Natural Gas (also called RNG or biomethane) is produced in a different manner than conventional natural gas. It is derived from biogas, which is produced from decomposing organic waste from landfills, agricultural waste and wastewater from treatment facilities. The biogas is captured and cleaned to create RNG. When RNG is added to North America’s natural gas system, it mixes with conventional natural gas. This means we’re unable to direct RNG to a specific customer. But the more RNG is added to the gas system, the less conventional natural gas is needed, thereby reducing the use of fossil fuels and overall greenhouse gas emissions.

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