BCUC Approves a Low Carbon Energy Program for Pacific Northern Gas

PNG's Low Carbon Energy program includes a voluntary Smart Energy program to offer PNG's residential, commercial, and industrial natural gas customers the option to receive a blend of renewable natural gas (RNG) with their natural gas supply.

For customers who opt-in to the Smart Energy program, the approved commodity charge is currently set at $27.50 per gigajoule, which reflects PNG's total estimated cost to provide RNG. PNG notes that customers in the Smart Energy program will also receive a carbon tax credit based on the amount of RNG purchased.

PNG may use a portion of its RNG supply to meet its own demand to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and/or may sell some of the RNG to those outside the Smart Energy program to reduce the overall costs for customers.

In addition, PNG was approved to recover costs for the Low Carbon Energy program, including the costs to acquire RNG supply, from all PNG customers through a rate rider. The rate rider is initially set at $0 per gigajoule.