Enbridge customers in Ottawa and eastern Ontario face natural gas price hike on July 1
At a time when natural gas bills would typically be cooling down in the summer, Enbridge Gas customers are set to see their bills get jacked up.
The Ontario Energy Board has approved Enbridge for a rate increase of 18.5 per cent to 23.2 per cent beginning July 1. For an average bill of $110, that could result in as much as $300 extra per year.
A statement from Enbridge Gas communications advisor Krista Luxton says, "The war in Ukraine paired with strong domestic demand and increased global demand for U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports has resulted in historically high natural gas market prices, which are anticipated to continue for some time."
"When you start blocking pipelines, natural gas and oil, in a country like Canada with some of the largest provable reserves in the world, you can expect these prices to go through the roof and that's exactly what's happened," says Dan McTeague, president of Canadians for Affordable Energy.
Natural gas prices are updated quarterly, and McTeague says they have been on the rise since last year.
"This time last year if you were paying $900, look to pay about $1,400."
Renfrew resident David Ainsworth has noticed an increase already on his bill.
"In the last few months the price of gas has gone up by at least 50 per cent in the last several months," Ainsworth says to CTV News Ottawa. "And you add on other costs such as the carbon tax which is another influencing factor. Yeah, yeah it's gone up for sure."
Between skyhigh gasoline prices and now rising natural gas prices, Ainsworth says there's no escaping inflation whether you're on the road or staying home.
"This is a serious issue for anybody who's having to get around and heat their homes, which means all of us."
Some Enbridge customers may have already noticed a sharp increase to their bills, with gas meter checks not taking place as scheduled.
The gas company says they aim to check metres once a month but have been unable to do so due to the pandemic, which has resulted in usage estimates being higher than normal.
Enbridge says overages can be corrected once the metre has been read. Alternatively customers can report their metre readings to Enbridge themselves.
The Ontario Energy Board says the International Energy Agency warns of continued pressure rising prices beyond this quarter.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Centre Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs hasn't been ruled out of tonight's Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.