Natural Gas Regulatory – What's New
Manitoba Hydro's natural gas rates are regulated by the Public Utilities Board of Manitoba (PUB). PUB Orders may be accessed through the PUB's website.
May 10, 2013
On May 10, 2013, Centra Gas Manitoba Inc. (Centra) filed the Cost of Gas Update to its 2013/14 General Rate Application (GRA). For most customer classes, the Cost of Gas Update results in bill increases slightly less than those proposed in Volume II of the GRA, filed on February 22, 2013. The combined bill impact of the proposed rate changes for a typical residential customer would be an increase of 2.6% or $19 per year, effective August 1, 2013. The bill impacts for larger volume customers range from a 7.4% decrease to a 3.5% increase depending on rate class and level of consumption.
May 7, 2013
On May 7 and May 14, Centra filed responses to Round 2 Information Requests with respect to the 2013/14 General Rate Application (GRA).
April 26, 2013
On April 26, 2013, the PUB issued Board Order 40/13 approving, on an interim ex-parte basis, Centra's request to increase the Primary Gas rate, for all gas consumed on or after May 1, 2013. The Primary Gas rate for all Quarterly Rate Service customers will increase from 9.67¢ per cubic metre to 11.57¢ per cubic metre effective May 1, 2013.
April 12, 2013
On April 12, April 16, April 18, and May 22, Centra filed responses to Round 1 Information Requests with respect to the 2013/14 General Rate Application (GRA).
March 7, 2013
The PUB held a Pre-Hearing Conference on March 1, 2013 in regards to Centra's 2013/14 General Rate Application (GRA). On March 7, 2013, the PUB issued Procedural Order 21/13 which grants intervener status, establishes the scope of the proceeding, and approves a timetable for the orderly exchange of evidence in the consideration of Centra's GRA.
February 22, 2013
On February 22, 2013, Centra filed Volume II of its natural gas 2013/14 General Rate Application (GRA) with the PUB. Volume II includes the proposed rates and bill impacts on the various customer classes, including the residential customer class. The combined bill impact of the proposed rate changes for a typical residential customer would be an increase of 2.8% or $20 per year, effective August 1, 2013. The bill impacts for larger volume customers range from an 8.0% decrease to a 4.0% increase depending on rate class and level of consumption.
The timetable for the GRA process will be confirmed at a Pre-Hearing Conference, to be held at the PUB's offices on March 1, 2013.
January 29, 2013
On January 29, 2013, the PUB issued Board Order 10/13 approving, on an interim ex-parte basis, Centra's request to maintain the Primary Gas rate as previously approved in PUB Order 89/12 and continued through PUB Order 137/12, for all gas consumed on or after February 1, 2013. The Primary Gas rate for all Quarterly Rate Service customers will remain unchanged at 9.67¢ per cubic metre effective February 1, 2013.
January 25, 2013
On January 25, Centra filed Volume I of its natural gas 2013/14 General Rate Application (GRA) with the PUB. In its Application, Centra is requesting approval of a general revenue increase of approximately 2% effective August 1, 2013, expected to generate additional annual revenue of $6 million and projected net income of $5 million in the 2013/14 fiscal year. Centra is also requesting approval of adjustments to rates to reflect changes in its forecast non-Primary Gas costs, to be effective August 1, 2013; approval of Supplemental Gas, Transportation (to Centra), Distribution (to Customers) Sales and Transportation rates, Basic Monthly Charges, the Primary Gas Overhead rate and the Fixed Rate Primary Gas Service ("FRPGS") Program Cost Rate, effective August 1, 2013; final approval of 2010/11 & 2011/12 gas year gas costs; and the disposition through rate riders of gas cost deferral account balances at October 31, 2012, to be implemented effective August 1, 2013.
Centra is also seeking approval of changes to the Terms & Conditions of Service, and approval of changes to the rate setting formula for FRPGS to self-insure the volumetric and market price risk for each subsequent offering. As well, Centra is seeking final approval of various interim Orders issued by the PUB since the last Cost of Gas Application.
Centra intends to file Volume II of its GRA in February 2013, which will provide additional information regarding the proposed natural gas rates and the related bill impacts for the various customer classes, including the residential customer class. While the GRA will not result in new Primary Gas rates, the resulting rate changes will coincide with the quarterly Primary Gas rate adjustment scheduled for August 1, 2013.
October 23, 2012
On October 23, 2012, the PUB issued Board Order 137/12 approving, on an interim ex-parte basis, Centra's request to maintain the Primary Gas rate as previously approved in PUB Order 89/12, for all gas consumed on or after November 1, 2012. The Primary Gas rate for all Quarterly Rate Service customers will remain unchanged at 9.67¢ per cubic metre effective November 1, 2012.
August 24, 2012
The Public Utilities Board issued Order 112/12 on August 24, 2012 approving the annual fixed costs associated with Centra’s proposed Transportation & Storage Portfolio from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2020.
July 19, 2012
On July 19, 2012, the PUB issued Board Order 89/12 approving, on an interim ex-parte basis, the August 1, 2012 Primary Gas rate. The Primary Gas rate for all Quarterly Rate Service customers will increase from 8.80¢ per cubic metre to 9.67¢ per cubic metre on August 1, 2012.
June 22, 2012
Centra Gas Manitoba Inc. filed Rebuttal Evidence with respect to its Transportation & Storage Portfolio Application.
May 18, 2012
Centra filed responses to Information Requests with respect to its Transportation & Storage Portfolio Application.
April 27, 2012
On April 27, 2012, the PUB issued Board Order 54/12 approving, on an interim ex-parte basis, the May 1, 2012 Primary Gas rate and the removal of Non-Primary Gas rate riders applied to the Transportation (to Centra) and Distribution (to customers) rates which were approved on an interim basis in Order 66/11 and set to expire April 30, 2012. The Primary Gas rate for all Quarterly Rate Service customers will decrease from 11.05¢ per cubic metre to 8.80¢ per cubic metre on May 1, 2012. The combined bill impact for a typical residential customer will be a decrease of 8.6% or approximately $67 per year, effective May 1, 2012.
April 26, 2012
The Public Utilities Board held a Pre-Hearing Conference on April 11, 2012 in regards to Centra's Transportation & Storage Portfolio Application. On April 26, 2012, the PUB issued a Procedural Order 49/12 which grants intervener status and establishes a timetable for the orderly exchange of evidence in the consideration of Centra's Application.
March 23, 2012
On March 23, 2012, Centra filed its Transportation & Storage Portfolio Application with the PUB. In its Application, Centra is seeking an Order approving the fixed costs associated with the proposed contractual arrangements for natural gas storage and related inter-state transportation with the ANR Pipeline Company (ANR) and the Great Lakes Gas Transmission Limited Partnership (GLGT).
January 20, 2012
On January 20, 2012, the PUB issued Board Order 7/12 approving, on an interim ex-parte basis, the February 1, 2012 Primary Gas rate. The Primary Gas rate for all Quarterly Rate Service customers will decrease from 14.36¢ per cubic metre to 11.05¢ per cubic metre on February 1, 2012.
