How to Read Your FortisBC Gas Bill — Complete Guide
Published: July 23, 2026 — BC Wide Home Services Ltd, doing business as BC Wide Heating & Air Conditioning — Greater Vancouver, BC
Bill Components Explained
Commodity cost: the actual cost of natural gas — fluctuates with market prices. Delivery charge: fixed charge for delivering gas through the pipeline system — covers infrastructure and maintenance. Carbon tax: BC carbon tax calculated per GJ of gas used — increases annually. Basic charge: fixed monthly fee for having an account. GST: 5% tax on the total. Most of your bill is delivery and carbon tax, not the gas itself.
Understanding Your Usage
Your bill shows GJ (gigajoules) used for the billing period. Compare GJ used to the same period last year — this gives an accurate comparison because it removes price fluctuations. Average Vancouver home uses 75-120 GJ/year for heating and hot water. Summer usage (3-8 GJ/month) is primarily for water heating. Winter usage (10-25 GJ/month) includes both heating and hot water.
Tracking and Saving
FortisBC online account shows daily gas usage — track this to: see how weather affects your consumption, identify when your heating system turned on for the season, detect unusual usage patterns (leak or inefficiency), and verify the impact of energy-saving upgrades. Set monthly targets and check your usage against them.