Small hike in natural gas rate

Manitobans who heat their homes with natural gas will pay a bit more because of North American natural gas price increases.

The Public Utilities Board has granted a request by Centra Gas Manitoba to increase the commodity rate of natural gas starting May 1. This rate is the amount Centra Gas pays to buy natural gas. It sells it to users without making a profit.

The PUB said the typical residential customer will pay $10 more per year, or 1.7 per cent.

The PUB will review gas rates again for Aug. 1.

The new rate does not apply to anyone who has signed fixed-term, fixed-price contracts with Centra or a private broker.