The Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) has recently announced changes in the way the price of natural gas is calculated. This is very important since it affects almost every private household and the majority of businesses in the country.
What are the changes? Until now, only volume has been taken into account when calculating gas prices for end customers; however, from April 2022, the costs of gas will also consider the actual calorific content. This means that tariffs will be based on the weighted average lower combustion heat index:
Therefore, depending on the real calorific value, charges may either be reduced or increased, based on de facto amount of natural gas consumed – a fairer solution considering that the average calorific value was somewhere around 8,200 kcal per m³ over the past few years.
There are also a number of special arrangements, as there are specific tariffs for certain business segments (some parts of the agricultural sector, such as processing companies and greenhouses, etc.); however, according to the PSRC, prices will not rise for vulnerable families which only use up to 600 m³of natural gas per year.
We strongly recommend finding out if and how the tariff changes will affect you.
Notwithstanding this, there are many different ways for homes and businesses to save energy costs, ranging from simple behavioural changes to extensive investment-based improvements. Using energy more wisely will not only save on utility bills, it will also reduce air pollution and contribute to a better environment. But most of all – it will contribute to mitigating climate change.
Are you interested in receiving further information, such as useful tips and recommendations?
Just contact the GEFF team for advice.