SaskEnergy asking for 5.4% rate drop, delivery rate increase

Residential natural gascustomers in Saskatchewan may soon be saving a little more on their SaskEnergy bill.

On Tuesday, the Crown corporation announced it is asking to decrease rates 5.4 per cent. If approved, it says the change would save the average homeowner $53 per year.

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However, SaskEnergy is alsolooking to increase its delivery service rate by $1.75 per month. Even with the change, SaskEnergysays it still has the lowest delivery rates in the country.

Dean Reeve, executive vice-president of SaskEnergy, said the Crown is hoping to have the rate changes implemented by November 2015. The provincial cabinet has the final say on any rate changes.

SaskEnergy is spending $47.5 million on infrastructure and upgrades in 2016, which is up from $7.4 million in 2010.

According to SaskEnergy, this year's home bill will be below their 10-year average of $1,052. It is expected to be an average of $921 for 2016.