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Ontario government's cap and trade in effect Jan. 1

Ontario government's cap and trade in effect Jan. 1

The Ontario government has introduced a cap-and-trade program. The plan is to cap the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that Ontario homes and businesses are allowed to emit, and lower that limit over time. Under this new legislation, Utilities Kingston must buy emission allowances for the natural gas used by its residential and business customers, as applicable. Those costs will then be included on your natural gas bill.

For general information, please visit ontario.ca/capandtrade.

Impact on your bill

  • As approved by the council of the City of Kingston, cap and trade will initially add about 3.5 cents per cubic metre of gas to your natural gas bill in 2017. 
  • The price of emission allowances will vary with supply and demand, and can change over time. If the price of emission allowances changes, the charge on your bill will be adjusted accordingly, just as it is for changes in gas commodity costs.
  • You pay what Utilities Kingston pays - no more, no less. This is true even if you buy your gas through an energy marketer.
  • Will add about $80.50 (7.8 per cent) to the average residential customer's annual natural gas bill in 2017 (if you were to use 2300 cubic metres annually).
  • The additional cap-and-trade cost will be included in the Delivery charge on your natural gas bill.

Save energy and money

You can save water, energy and money by implementing conservation measures in your home. View nearly one hundred tips, or talk directly to a conservation expert by calling 613-546-0000 and saying conservation. You'll have a one-on-one conversation with a qualified energy and water conservation expert who can direct you to the best rebates, investments and simple changes to save water, gas, or electricity.

More information

For more information on the Ontario Government's cap and trade program, please visit their website at ontario.ca/capandtrade or go to: