One day after the province’s Rate Review Panel approved SaskEnergy’s rate increase application, the announcement has been made.

In an announcement yesterday afternoon, the Saskatchewan government has decided to go ahead with a rate increase request from SaskEnergy, raising the rate of natural gas 37 cents from $6.80 a gigajoule to $7.17 a gigajoule.

Maynard Sontag is the Minister responsible for Crown Investments Corporation. He says the increase is meant to reflect the current natural gas market.

The increase calls for a 5.4% increase and would amount to roughly $4 more on the monthly bill for the average customer.

The increase becomes effective today.