The price of natural gas is about to go up for customers in Manitoba.
The Public Utilities Board (PUB) announced Wednesday morning that it has approved the application by Centra Gas Manitoba Inc to increase the current Primary Gas rate. The increase will take effect May 1st.
According to the PUB, the new rate is projected to increase the bill for a typical residential customer by approximately 20.5 per cent, or $150 per year. Primary Gas rates will be reviewed again in August.
Primary Gas is sold on a cost-recovery basis. This means customers are only charged what Centra pays for Primary Gas. There is no profit from the sale. This Primary Gas rate increase is the result of increases in the North American natural gas market prices.
Primary Gas rates for customers that have signed fixed-term fixed-price contracts, with either Centra or a private broker, are not affected.