Union Gas customer? Expect to pay $40 more per year

If you heat your home with natural gas expect to pay more starting Oct. 1.

The Ontario Energy Board has approved a rate increase on that date that will apply to Ontario's three natural gas suppliers: Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc., Natural Resource Gas Ltd. and Union Gas Ltd.

Northern Ontario, Union Gas customers can expect a yearly increase to their gas bill around $40 per year on average, or about 4.5 percent of their gas bill.

In southern Ontario, Union Gas customers will see an average yearly increase of around $24, or 3.7 percent of their natural gas bill.

“The approved rate change largely reflects fluctuations in the market prices Union Gas expects to pay for natural gas supplies for the next year,” the company said in a press release. “The difference between the forecast for natural gas market prices and transportation services and the actual costs from prior periods varies by location.”

Elsewhere, Enbridge customers will see an average increase to their natural gas bills of about $25 per year and Natural Resource Gas customers will pay $22 more, on average, per year.