The Saskatchewan government announced Thursday that it will be removing the federal carbon tax from home heating costs on SaskEnergy bills starting January 1, in addition to its announcement from around a month ago that it would be removed from home heating costs on SaskPower bills.
The province said this will result in savings for 98 per cent of Saskatchewan families who would not benefit from the federal government's decision to exempt the carbon tax from home heating oil.
"Our government is ensuring fairness for Saskatchewan families by removing the federal carbon tax on natural gas and electric heat, just as the federal government has done for families in Atlantic Canada by removing the carbon tax on heating oil," Crown Investments Corporation Minister Dustin Duncan said. "By extending carbon tax relief to Saskatchewan families who were left out in the cold by the federal government, our government is protecting Saskatchewan families' ability to afford to heat their homes this winter."
The province said the removal of the tax from SaskEnergy bills will save the average family $400 in 2024.
While Trudeau increases the carbon tax on January 1st making life more expensive for Canadian families, our government is removing the carbon tax on home heating, making life more affordable.
— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) December 28, 2023
⁰Starting January 1st, Saskatchewan families will no longer pay the carbon tax, or the… pic.twitter.com/5TnagJI29w
The release said heating accounts for up to 60 per cent of power consumption during the winter months for customers who rely on electric heat. SaskPower will eliminate the carbon tax on that heating by reducing the federal carbon tax rate rider on their bills by 60 per cent. This will benefit approximately 30,000 SaskPower customers, reducing their power bills by an average of $21 per month through the winter.
Customers will still see a federal carbon tax charge on their January utility bills for natural gas or electricity used for heating that they used in the month of December. The federal carbon tax will be zero billed, appearing as both a charge and a reversal credit, on bills for usage on and after January 1, 2024.
For SaskEnergy customers on an Equalized Payment Plan, equalized payment amounts will be adjusted beginning in February.
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