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.
| Rates ** | |
|---|---|
| Fixed Monthly Customer Charge | $21.87 |
| Base Energy Charge (per GJ/month) | $7.892 |
| Gas Cost Recovery Rate (per GJ/month) | $4.550 |
| Total Cost per GJ* | $12.442 |
*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) above equals the following prices for other fuels:
Oil - $0.501 per litre
Propane - $0.333 per litre
Electricity - $0.047 per kwh
Notes:
1 GJ = 26.1 litres Fuel Oil
1 GJ = 39.2 litres Propane
1 GJ= 277.78 kw/hr Electricity
Equivalent fuel pricing includes a 3.25% Municipal Tax on the delivery charge.
The Fixed Monthly Customer Charge, Base Energy Charge and Demand Charge permit Heritage Gas to recover the cost of delivering natural gas to residents or businesses. These costs include the cost of building, operating, and maintaining the system. These components are regulated by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB).
The Fixed Monthly Customer Charge (FMCC) (applies to all Rate Classes) is a flat rate charge and is applied each month regardless of energy consumed. This rate appears on your bill as a “$ per month” charge.
The Base Energy Charge (BEC) (applies to all Rate Classes) is a variable rate applied to the total energy consumed over the billing period. This rate appears on your bill as a “$ per GJ” charge.
The Gas Cost Recovery Rate (GCRR) (applies to all Rate Classes) is a variable rate and appears on your bill as a “$ per GJ” charge. This rate is applied to the total energy consumed over the billing period. The GCRR 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.