In accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (GGPPA), Ontario is subject to a carbon pricing program which is comprised of two components:
- A federal carbon charge applied to fossil fuels (including natural gas).
- A provincial Emissions Performance Standards (EPS) program for industrial facilities producing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions above a certain threshold.
The federal carbon charge assigns a value to each tonne of GHG emissions, measured in carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). On April 1, 2024, the federal carbon charge for natural gas increased to 15.25 cents per cubic metre (m3). This charge increases annually each April and all of the money that we collect for the federal carbon charge goes to the government.
2019 – 2030 Federal Carbon Charge Rates for Marketable Natural Gas | ||
---|---|---|
Year | $/tCO2e* | cents/m3 |
2019 | $20 | 3.91 |
2020 | $30 | 5.87 |
2021 | $40 | 7.83 |
2022 | $50 | 9.79 |
2023 | $65 | 12.39 |
2024 | $80 | 15.25 |
2025 | $95 | 18.11 |
2026 | $110 | 20.97 |
2027 | $125 | 23.83 |
2028 | $140 | 26.69 |
2029 | $155 | 29.54 |
2030 | $170 | 32.40 |
*tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent
Explore the different ways to pay your bill
The federal carbon charge is included on customers’ bills, with the exception of customer facilities that have an exemption certificate issued by the federal government. The federal carbon charge shows as a separate line item when applicable. Eligible participants under the GGPPA may be required or permitted to register with the federal government in order to receive full or partial exemption from the federal carbon charge.
The Government of Canada has introduced the Climate Action Incentive Fund (CAIF) for small-medium enterprises, municipalities, universities, schools, hospitals, and not-for-profit organizations. Eligible recipients may access funding for projects to decrease energy usage, save money, and reduce carbon pollution.
Ontario Emissions Performance Standards Program
The Ontario EPS program regulates greenhouse gas emissions from large industrial facilities by setting an emissions standard that the facility must meet each year. A facility that does not meet the standard will be responsible for paying to cover the portion of its emissions that exceed the standard. The EPS program is administered by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), and replaced the federal Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS) on Jan. 1, 2022.
As of Jan. 1, 2022, only facilities that are registered in the EPS program will remain eligible for exemption from the federal carbon charge.
Greenhouse operators
Greenhouse operators may be eligible to obtain 80 percent relief of the federal carbon charge, using an exemption certificate, when marketable natural gas used exclusively in the operation of certain commercial greenhouses is delivered by a registered distributor (e.g. Enbridge Gas).
To allow Enbridge Gas to process your exemption (such that only 20 percent of the federal carbon charge will apply), please complete the following steps: