Calgary 
Alberta says the natural gas rebate program announced in Budget 2022 will start in October.
The program was announced last April to shield Albertans from European-style price spikes next fall and winter.
The government says 1.6 million homes, farms and businesses, including those in rural and remote areas, will receive natural gas rebate from Oct. 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023.
As per the program, all consumers connected to the natural gas distribution system and paying a bill directly from the regulated utility provider like ATCO Gas North, ATCO Gas South and Apex Utilities with less than 2,500 gigajoules of annual natural gas consumption will be eligible for rebates.
These rebates will appear directly on the bill (no application necessary) and will cover the difference if the monthly default natural gas rate goes above $6.50 per GJ. As per the example in the news release, ” if any of the regulated rates go to $7.50 per GJ for the month of November, then all consumers would receive a rebate on their bill covering $1 for every GJ used during the month of November.”
In addition, the rebate program is also expanded to natural gas customers who are not connected to the distribution system and customers who use other heating fuels, such as propane, kerosene or heating oils.
Those who use the annual equivalent of 2,500 GJ or less in other heating fuels can apply directly for their rebates through a separate application system and information on how to apply will be released before the Oct. 1 start date. As per the news release, specific eligibility limits for each fuel type will be listed on the Alberta website.
The rebate program will run from Oct. 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023. The exact timing of the rebates will vary depending on your billing cycle.
Recently, Alberta extended the temporary suspension of 13 percent provincial fuel tax collection. The $150 electricity rate rebate will go into effect starting July 1st.
