The Public Utilities Board (Board) approved the application of Centra Gas Manitoba Inc. (Centra) to increase the Gas Commodity rate from $0.0667/m3 to $0.0961/m3 and approved a Commodity Cost Balancing Deferral rate rider of $0.0098/m3 (owing to Centra), effective May 1, 2025.
Gas Commodity is sold on a cost recovery basis, meaning that Centra charges customers only what Centra pays for Gas Commodity and does not make a profit on its sale. The current Gas Commodity rate increase is the result of forecast increases in the expected costs of purchasing natural gas over the next 12 months. This increase is the result of several natural gas market factors, including reduced natural gas storage levels in North America following a colder 2024/25 winter and higher demand for North American liquefied natural gas.
The changes to the Gas Commodity rate and Commodity Cost Balancing Deferral rate rider are projected to increase the annual bill for a typical residential customer by approximately $73/year, or 12.4%. Centra’s Gas Commodity rate and Commodity Cost Balancing Deferral rate rider will be reviewed again for August 1, 2025.
Gas Commodity rates for customers that have signed fixed-term fixed-price contracts, with either Centra or a private broker, are not affected.
The Board is an impartial tribunal and regulator, at arm’s length from government that acts in the public interest.
