Thanks to a first-of-its-kind initiative, natural gas consumers in British Columbia are leading the way to a cleaner energy future without having to lift a finger.
On July 1, FortisBC became the first energy utility in North America to automatically designate a portion of its customers’ gas supply as renewable natural gas.
The move significantly expands the role RNG will play in the Canadian utility’s lower-carbon energy plans. Previously, customers could choose to designate a portion of their natural gas usage as RNG; now, FortisBC automatically designates 1% of a customer’s gas, known as the designated RNG blend. The utility will continue to offer its voluntary RNG program so customers can choose to designate up to 100% of the gas they use as RNG, inclusive of the 1% blend.
According to the utility, the average residential customers will experience no impact to their monthly bill. The 1% designated RNG blend will be incorporated in the storage and transport line item on their bill, and customers will see a carbon tax credit for the portion of their gas that is automatically designated as RNG.
Increasing the amount of RNG in the gas system is considered an important part of the provincial government’s plan to decarbonize the economy. Currently, more than 13,000 British Columbia homes and businesses are subscribed to RNG through the voluntary RNG program.
“It’s clear that our province needs all available tools to address climate change and support an affordable energy transition to lower emissions for residents, businesses and industry,” said Doug Slater, vice president of Indigenous relations and regulatory affairs at FortisBC. “The gas system is undergoing a transition as we work to increase the supply of renewable and low-carbon gases like RNG to lower emissions, and this new designated RNG blend offering will help us do that.”
FortisBC reports that it will continue to develop its renewable and lower-carbon options, and the designated RNG blend percentage is expected to increase over time.