Natural gas is measured and billed in Gigajoules (GJ), which is the metric equivalent to the British Thermal Unit (BTU). A Gigajoule is a unit of energy that has a heat value of approximately 948,000 BTUs.
Rate Class 1 - Up to 5000 GJ per year
| Rates ** | |
|---|---|
| Fixed Monthly Customer Charge | $18.00 |
| Base Energy Charge (per GJ/month) | $6.497 |
| Gas Cost Recovery (per GJ/month) | $6.23 |
| Total Cost per GJ* | $12.727 |
Rate Class 2 - Between 5001 and 50000 GJ per year
| Rates ** | |
|---|---|
| Fixed Monthly Customer Charge | $481.56 |
| Base Energy Charge (per GJ/month) | $2.067 |
| Gas Cost Recovery (per GJ/month) | $6.23 |
| Total Cost per GJ* | $8.297 |
Rate Class 3 - Over 50000 GJ per year
| Rates ** | |
|---|---|
| Fixed Monthly Customer Charge | $1729.32 |
| Base Energy Charge (per GJ/month) | $0.115 |
| Gas Cost Recovery (per GJ/month) | $6.23 |
| Demand Charge (per GJ/day/month) | $ |
| Total Cost per GJ* | $6.345 |
* plus applicable taxes
**Historical Rates
One thing to note when converting from one fuel to another is to take into consideration changes in the efficiency of the equipment.
Fuel Cost Comparison
The price for natural gas (total cost per GJ) equals the following prices for other fuels:
| Rate Class | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil ($ per litre) | 0.500 | 0.322 | 0.265 |
| Propane ($ per litre) | 0.333 | 0.214 | 0.162 |
| Electricity ($ /kwh) | 0.047 | 0.030 | 0.023 |
Notes:
1 GJ = 26.1 litres Fuel Oil
1 GJ = 39.2 litres Propane
1 GJ= 277.78 kw/hr Electricity
Equivalent fuel pricing includes a 5% Municipal Tax on the delivery charge
Note: For Rate Class 3 Oil 1 GJ = 24 litres Bunker C Oil
The Fixed Monthly Charge and Base Energy Charge permit Heritage Gas to recover the cost of delivering natural gas to residents or businesses. These costs include the cost of building, operating, and maintaining the system. These components are regulated by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB).
The Gas Cost Recovery Rate permits Heritage Gas to recover the cost of acquiring gas supply for customers. This is a "pass through" charge meaning there is no additional mark up applied by Heritage Gas. The cost Heritage Gas pays for the commodity is what is charged to customers. This portion is reviewed monthly and adjusted to reflect current market prices for natural gas. This component is not regulated by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.