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Rates for Business

In many cases, the total cost of natural gas is more affordable than heating with other energy sources. Rates include four main parts. For a full breakdown of a Eastward Energy natural gas bill visit the “Understanding Your Invoice” section of the website.

  • 1. Delivery Charges

    Fixed charge    

    A fixed charge each month that covers the cost of your service line, natural gas meter, customer account administration and 24 hour emergency service.

    •         Regulated by the Nova Scotia Energy Board.
    •         This fixed amount is charged regardless of the energy consumed.
    •         On a Eastward Energy bill this is called the Fixed Monthly Customer Charge (FMCC).

    Variable charge

    This fee is the cost to distribute natural gas through the Eastward Energy pipeline system to your property line.

    •         This charge is variable based on your consumption during a billing period.
    •         Regulated by the Nova Scotia Energy Board.
    •         On a Eastward Energy bill this is called the Base Energy Charge (BEC).

     

  • 2. Commodity Charge

    This is the cost of the natural gas you use each month.

    • The price for natural gas depends on weather and market conditions and is not regulated by the Nova Scotia Energy Board.
    • This charge is a pass through, meaning Eastward Energy does not add any additional mark-up.
    • On a Eastward Energy bill this is called the Gas Cost Recovery Rate (GCRR).

  • 3. Other Charges

    Cost of Carbon

    The Federal Government’s Carbon Tax is intended to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels to lessen emissions of greenhouse gases. This carbon tax is applied to all greenhouse gas-emitting fuels.

    The Transportation Cost Recovery Rate (TCRR)

    The cost to transport natural gas to the Eastward Energy distribution system. This includes fees associated with long-term natural gas transportation contracts including tolls on the major transmission routes across Canada and the United States, where the natural gas is sourced. This charge is regulated by the Nova Scotia Energy Board.

    RDA Recovery Rate
    The “RDA” refers to Eastward Energy’s Revenue Deficiency Account which was approved by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board or NSUARB (now operating as the Nova Scotia Energy Board, or NSEB) and has been in place since 2004. When Eastward Energy began operations, it could not set rates that were adequate to recover its full cost of service and allowed returns. The NSEB approved the establishment of the RDA to defer these unrecovered amounts for recovery in future periods. The difference between the revenue requirement (the full cost of service and allowed returns) and the revenue received from customers was accumulated in a deferral account. The RDA Recovery Rate was approved by the NSEB in 2024 to begin recovery of these deferrals between 2025-2026.

Commercial Rate Class

To simplify our current rate class system, with the approval of the NSEB, we have defined a new class system to make it easier to understand. Our new commercial rate classes are General Service and Rate Class 3. These new rates will be in effect Jan. 1, 2024.

 

General Service: Any Customer who is an end-user and whose rate class is not either Residential, Rate Class 3, or Rate Class 4.

Rate Class 3: Any Customer who is an end-user and whose total gas requirements at that location are greater than 50,000 GJ per year.

Rate Class 4: Any customer who is an end-user requiring more than 50,000GJ per year and whose contract demand is a minimum of 7,000GJ per day per site.

 

  • General Service Class GSC

    If your business were on natural gas today, your price for natural gas would be equal to paying:

    $0.85/L

    If you are paying more, you could be saving each month with natural gas.

    Example Rate Breakdown

    Rates for General Service Class as of April 1, 2025. The following data is calculated based on an average monthly consumption1 of 7GJs.

    Charge Type Monthly Rate Example Charge 1 (for 7GJ)
    Fixed Delivery Charge $65.00 $65.00
    Variable Charge per GJ $8.948 $62.636
    Commodity Charge per GJ $10.95 $76.65
    Other Fees $2.311 $16.177
    Total Month Charge2 - $220.463
    Total Annual Charge - $2645.556
    1. This is an average example of a rate breakdown and your consumption may vary from the average use depending on equipment, size of space etc.
    2. Does not include any special fees or applicable taxes.

    Prices and Rates are displayed differently on a bill. Learn more about how to read your bill here.

  • Rate Class 3 >50,000 GJ/year

    If your business were on natural gas today, your price for natural gas would be equal to paying:

    $0.54/L

    If you are paying more, you could be saving each month with natural gas.

    Natural gas consumption can vary greatly with Rate Class 3 customers. Our Account Management Team is pleased to discuss the energy needs for your property and will provide a rate breakdown and cost savings estimates for your business.

Full Rate Details

View this month’s complete rate chart.

View Rates

Historic Rates

Gain insight into the cost of gas over the past few years.

Rate Tables

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