In 1945, the provincial government of British Columbia established the British Columbia Power Commission. The Power Commission was given the mandate to acquire the many private electric companies scattered throughout the province, combine them into a single utility, and utilize these resources to extend the reach of the province’s energy infrastructure. In 1961, the government purchased BC Electric, the sole remaining private electricity utility, amalgamated it with the Power Commission into a single crown corporation, the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority.
Now known as BC Hydro, it provides electricity to the majority of British Columbia’s residents, with the remainder being served by FortisBC. Homeowners and businesses in British Columbia cannot purchase electricity from energy retailers.
However, many commercial natural gas retailers do offer competitive rates and alternative pricing structures that can help many people reduce their costs. At Energyrates.ca, we are dedicated to providing you with the information and pricing data you need to make informed choices and obtain the lowest possible natural gas rates. If you would like to see what retail rates are currently available in your area, just fill out the rates comparison form above, or inquire about a free consultation using our contact form.
If you are currently researching your options, Energyrates.ca has collected information about British Columbia’s energy retailers and utilities, and we have also created guides explaining how to read your energy bill, how to update your utility service, how energy rates are calculated, and much more. Articles to choose from include:
Regional Energy Services
Learn about the energy utilities and natural gas retailers offering services in Vancouver, Victoria, Burnaby, and Surrey, and find information on the development of electricity and natural gas services in those cities.
Rates & Information
Making informed choices about your electricity and natural gas sourcing requires knowing more than just what retailers you have to choose from. We have developed several articles which explain how energy rates are calculated, how to read your bill, and more:
- Breaking Down Your Electricity & Natural Gas Bill
- Explaining Your Electricity & Natural Gas Rates
- Home Renovation & Appliance Rebates
- How to Read Your Energy Meters
- How to Update Your Energy Services
- Why the Energy Market is Regulated
Residential Natural Gas Retailers
Want to be sure that you have the cheapest possible natural gas rates for your home? We maintain a comprehensive information repository on all of the regulated utilities and retailers currently providing natural gas services in British Columbia. These include:
Commercial Natural Gas Retailers
Businesses and commercial operations dedicate a significant percentage of their operating budgets to energy expenditures—powering office equipment, running machinery, running furnaces and air conditioners. To help business owners reduce these costs and increase profits, we have compiled information on British Columbia’s commercial natural gas retailers:
- Access Gas Services
- AltaGas
- Bluestream Energy
- Direct Energy
- Just Energy
- Planet Energy
- Summitt Energy
Regulated Rate Providers
British Columbia’s regulated provider of natural gas services is FortisBC, which also provides electricity services to residents of the province who do not receive electricity from BC Hydro.
