The Government of Saskatchewan today approved SaskEnergy鈥檚 adjustments to both its Commodity and Delivery Service rates, as recommended by the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel.聽 Starting November 1, 2016, residential customers will see an overall decrease of nearly two per cent per month or $15 annually to their heating bills.聽 This follows a decrease of $53 annually, which came into effect January 1, 2016.
鈥淲hen you add the savings from earlier this year to this latest decrease, residential customers will see their natural gas bill shrink by $68 annually,鈥� Minister Responsible for SaskEnergy Dustin Duncan said. 鈥淚鈥檓 pleased we鈥檙e able to pass on savings to customers as we head into the winter heating season.聽 SaskEnergy also offers price protection, which shields customers against market volatility at a time of year when they鈥檙e using most of their natural gas.鈥�
Lower market prices have provided the opportunity for a Commodity Rate decrease from $4.30/GJ to $3.65/GJ, now the lowest in 16 years.聽 The Rate Review Panel鈥檚 recommendation to the government mainly supported SaskEnergy鈥檚 application, with a minor adjustment to the Commodity Rate (13 per cent decrease instead of the original 14 per cent SaskEnergy applied for in May 2016).聽 The panel鈥檚 recommendation reflects changes in the heat value factor of natural gas supply purchased by SaskEnergy.
SaskEnergy will also implement an 8.6 per cent increase to its Delivery Service Rate, remaining competitive with other utilities and providing one of the lowest residential delivery charges in Canada.聽 The primary purpose for the Delivery Service increase is related to costs for safety and infrastructure renewal.
鈥淪askEnergy continues to invest in safety technology, as well as proactive infrastructure programs, such as the service tee upgrades in areas of the province prone to ground shifting from excessive soil moisture,鈥� Duncan said.聽 鈥淥ver the past five years, SaskEnergy has upgraded more than 13,000 pipeline connections to reduce potential for underground leaks.鈥�
SaskEnergy will continue to look for further efficiencies, and has achieved more than $38 million in efficiencies since 2009, with another $4 million planned this fiscal year.
