Canadian Personal Finance Blog

In Canada, a fossil fuel rich nation (notice I didn’t say energy rich, that is a fallacy), you wouldn’t think there would be such problems as shortages or such for fossil fuels. Well, as we all know that is not the case.

Analysts are saying that in the U.S. heating costs may go up almost 30% this winter (depending on how cold it is, and such). Well if I do a quick set of calculations I see from my bills (I am with Enbridge and I have equal monthly billing, so it isn’t too hard to figure this one out):

• 2002 is my base year for now
• 2003 I paid 20% more than I did in 2002
• 2004 I paid 54% more than I did in 2002 and 27% more than in 2003
• 2005 my rate didn’t go up?!? Well it must have been a warm year, I guess (global warming helping out Ottawa)

Now I am only comparing the cost of the Natural Gas coming into my house (Enbridge’s bill also nails me for a DELIVERY CHARGE? A CUSTOMER CHARGE and a GAS SUPPLY charge which adds up to almost $16 by itself). I also rent my water heater and there is GST on all of this.

So I guess my questions are:

1. Why the heck did my gas charges go up so darn much in 2004? Maybe I used more? Not sure, but holy cow, that was a jump!
2. Why are consumers standing for all of these “death by 1000 paper cut” charges like a Customer charge?
3. If my gas charges go up 33%, how will my new HIGH EFFICIENCY furnace going to counteract that?
• My guess would be if I am really lucky my bill might stay the same because my new furnace is 30% more efficient than my previous one (yes, VERY wishful thinking)

We’ll see folks, stay tuned, you’ll hear my screams at my new rates in January! –C8j