British Columbia

Natural Gas:

Starting in 2007, residential gas customers in British Columbia were able to choose their natural gas supplier, receiving the same rights business customers have had since 2004.

Certain local distribution companies, like Terasen Gas, reformed their business structure to offer all customers a chance to shop for lower natural gas rates. Customers can choose a different company to supply them with their gas. Customers choosing an alternative gas supplier will still have their gas supply delivered by the local utility, but customers will be buying their gas supply from a new company.

A customer's natural gas bill has been separated into two parts:

• Regulated distribution of gas, which is still only provided by the utility, and
• Supply of the gas commodity, which is open to competition.

Customers can choose to receive their gas supply from their utility, or an alternative gas provider.

If customers do not shop for an alternative gas supplier, they receive default supply service from their utility. Under default supply service, customers pay a supply charge called 'cost of gas' which can vary as often as monthly for larger customers, or every three months for residential customers. Customers can avoid wild monthly swings in the gas supply charge by contracting with an alternative gas supplier.

No matter who you choose to buy energy from, your local utility will continue to deliver your gas and respond to service interruptions and outages. Residential customers will continue to receive a single bill from their utility, which will list their utility delivery charges, plus their charges from their competitive gas marketer.