Ontario price hikes about to kick in

TORONTO - Ontarians will soon have to pay more for natural gas and electricity next April 1st following a double-barreled rate hike approved by the Ontario Energy Board.

The increase in natural gas costs applies to all Enbridge Inc. customers and will take effect April 1.

The company said the change would boost the average customer's gas bill by about $94 a year.

It's being blamed in part on the higher cost of delivering gas to Ontario from western Canada.

The OEB signed off on the gas rate increase earlier this week.

That hike is scheduled to take place on the same day as an already announced increase in electricity rates.

Four months ago the OEB approved a 10 per cent rise in electricity rates for Ontario residents.

Starting April 1 basic rates for electricity will rise by about 10 per cent for the first 750-kilowatt hours.

Above that consumption there will be an additional 17 per cent hike.

CBC Ottawa