Keremeos resident Ed Minshull was puzzled -and a little frustrated - when he received his summer billing from Fortis BC for natural gas recently.
Minshull’s bill indicated a minimal amount of natural gas used - 58 cents worth, to be exact - topped by a delivery charge of $12.81.
According to David Wylie, Communications spokesman for Fortis BC, Fortis gas bills are made up of two types of charges.
“The delivery charge is made up from the cost to deliver gas to our customers,” he said. “It includes the cost to build and maintain our pipeline to ensure we deliver natural gas safely to our customers.”
Wylie said the second charge, known as a “commodity charge” was the actual cost of natural gas used by the customer.
“We have no mark up on the price of natural gas sold to our customers. We pay the same price as that paid by homeowners,” he said.
Wylie said the delivery charges reflect the cost Fortis incurs to keep the pipeline running reliably, as well as providing for the cost of emergency services.
Minshull’s bill reflected what would be close to a minimum monthly charge for natural gas service to his residence, which he would have paid regardless of the amount of natural gas used.