As Ontario natural gas prices have risen On October 1, Lina Mockus was primed for impact. The Toronto owner was proactive; she replaced her old natural gas boiler with a combination unit that provides both heat and hot water in January (a rental, like the old one) and had new airtight windows installed in February.
“I’m an environmentalist, so I tried to do everything I could to reduce my ecological footprint and save money too,” Mockus said.
Rate increase
Enbridge Gas has received approval from the Ontario Energy Board to increase rates by approximately 5% for homeowners in the Toronto area and 8% for those in other southwestern regions. Ontario for the last quarter of 2022, adding $74 and $105, respectively, to the average homeowner. invoice. Compared to this time last year, Toronto homeowners can expect to see a year-to-date difference of $469, as natural gas rates have increased quarterly; elsewhere in southwestern Ontario, the cumulative annual difference will be about $417. Combined with higher grocery and gas prices, Ontarians are seeing their budgets stretched.
Natural gas is traded as a commodity, said Enbridge spokesperson Andrea Stass. With the war in Ukraine, more countries around the world are competing for North American supplies because they do not trade with Russia, another major supplier. Increased competition increases the price Enbridge pays for gas, which affects the rates charged to consumers.
“There is increased demand for natural gas in the United States as countries look to North America as a secure supplier,” Stass said. “We get our gas from Alberta and the United States. Fortunately, North America has plenty of supply and Ontario has one of the largest underground storage facilities, so relative to the market we are able to keep prices low. This does not make it easy for families facing rising costs on many fronts.
Ontario electricity rates will also change from summer rates to winter rates on Nov. 1, according to OEB spokesperson Mary Ellen Beninger. Peak and mid-peak pricing times vary from summer price to winter price. In winter, peak hours are 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Peak hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit https://www.oeb.ca/consumer-information-and-protection/electricity-rates for more information.
Renovate your house
Mockus has achieved approximately 10-15% energy savings from its new windows and boiler/water heater combination that heats its radiators and faucets. This isn’t the first time she’s made changes to improve the energy efficiency of her home.
“I live in a house that’s about 100 years old, and when I bought it, it was leaky and drafty with little insulation,” Mockus said.
She had an energy audit done about 10 years ago and first tackled the easily repairable elements. Mockus used weather stripping to prevent drafts around his windows and doors and had his leaky chimney repaired. Then she isolated his attic and improved the insulation of his basement.
“I did the basics back then and saw a reduction in heating bills,” she said.
Discount programs
When Mockus decided it was time to replace the windows over 30 years old, the installer gave her an estimate and told her about the Canada Greener Homes initiative. Under the federal program, homeowners can receive grants of up to $5,000 to undertake energy-saving renovations. The program requires an application, approval to participate, pre- and post-retrofit Ener-Guide evaluations, and making some of the suggested changes. Additionally, discounts are available to cover the cost of energy audits. Mockus paid around $780 for pre- and post-installation audits. The Canadian Greener Homes Initiative and Enbridge are offering up to $600 in rebates for Energy Guide audits.
“I decided I might as well enjoy it,” Mockus said. “The reimbursement depended on the difference in energy efficiency between the two audits.”
She also replaced her 17-year-old boiler, since she had to make two changes to qualify for the discount. While the federal reimbursement did not fully cover the cost of the changes and audits, she received $1,700 in return.
Enbridge also has a home energy efficiency rebate program separate from the federal government options, although it also requires pre- and post-retrofit home energy assessments. Each type of suggested renovation done by a homeowner comes with a rebate price of up to $5,000 in rebates.
“Homeowners can participate in both programs, but cannot receive duplicate rebates for the same qualifying energy efficiency upgrades and energy ratings,” Enbridge’s Stass said. In other words, you can claim a federal refund for new windows, but you cannot ask Enbridge to reimburse you for the same upgrade.
Homeowners with limited incomes may qualify for Enbridge’s Home Winterproofing program, which offers free insulation, draft protection and a smart thermostat to reduce energy costs by up to 30%. The Ontario Energy Board offers LEAP, the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program for people who can’t pay their energy bills or are afraid of being disconnected. The City of Toronto has a similar emergency energy fund (call 647-727-8988.).
Easy fixes
When it comes to saving money on energy bills, there are a number of inexpensive things that can be done to make a difference in your home’s energy efficiency, says Simon Bernath , CEO of fourprices.ca, an independent source of heating and cooling. information.
“There are habits you can change and there are small investments that have an impact,” Bernath said. “For example, you can lower the temperature in your house a few degrees and wear a sweater. For every degree you lower the thermostat, you see a savings of 1-3%.”
He also recommends changing your furnace filter every few months so it doesn’t work so hard to heat up your home. keep heat registers open and unobstructed; and close the curtains at night when it’s coldest to keep the heat inside. A smart thermostat is also a good investment, because you keep the temperature low when you’re not at home; a mobile phone application allows you to control the temperature remotely.
“Rising energy prices are something we all have to deal with,” Bernath said. “There’s no need to delay heating your home if you live in Canada. And while some of these suggestions may seem nebulous, over time they can make a difference.
Additional Energy Saving Tips
- Keep your fireplace damper closed to prevent heat from escaping up the chimney.
- Place caulking and weatherstripping around windows and doors to eliminate drafts.
- During the winter months, use heat shrink plastic on the windows to keep the heat in.
- Prevent heat loss by using foam gaskets to insulate outlets and light switches.
- Add insulation to your walls to improve comfort and efficiency and protect against moisture.
- Schedule an annual furnace inspection with a qualified professional.
Source: Enbridge
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