Homeowner gas rate cut decision delayed

The Energy and Utilities Board has adjourned making a decision on whether to force Enbridge Gas New Brunswick to lower residential natural gas prices for the remainder of the winter.

A date for a decision has not been set.

The cuts could mean an average savings of $100 per month for homeowners, evidence submitted to theEUBsuggests.

Enbridge, which had promisedresidential gas customers that their bills would average at least 20 per centbelow the cost of electric heat, argued against the cuts during an EUB hearing on Monday.

Company lawyer Len Hoyt said reducing homeowner rates in February and March to meet that promisecould cost $1.8 million.

Hoytblamed the Alward government's suspension of Enbridge's deferred expense account for ending the company'sability to finance temporary rate cuts.

Enbridge is scheduled to undergo a full rate hearing next month and argued for residential rates to be decided on then.

The company says because the Alward government merged about 1,000 small commercial customers into a group with about 8,000 residential customers, the requirement to deliver 20 per centsavings to homeowners has changed significantly.

Commercial customers pay 23 per centmore for electricity than residential customersand Enbridge says it only needs to provide "blended" savings to the entire group.

It says one natural gas rate that provides 20 per centsavings to the group would individually provide six per centsavings to homeowners and 37 per centsavings to commercial users.

But public intervener Ren Basque called on the EUBto implement full 20 per centsavings to residential customers directly, saying promises made by Enbridge and government to homeowners must be enforced.

The EUB deliberated for about 30 minutes, then announced a decision would be delayed.