Is Energy Misleading Its Customers About Renewable Gas?

Florence (a fictitious name) is an Energy customer. His house is supplied with 80% natural gas, including furnace and hot water. After receiving emails and postal messages from Énergir, I decided to turn to renewable natural gas (RNG). But in return, she will have to pay more every month.

We are concerned about the environment. When we saw the ads, we had the impression that renewable natural gas would come directly to our homeshe says in an interview with Radio Canada.

It is very easy to find the respective offer on the company’s website. Énergir suggests that consumers make a concrete gesture to the environment and add renewable gas, produced from organic waste, to their consumption profile.

So the customer has three options. It can convert 10%, 30% or even 100% of its natural gas consumption into GNR. For the latter option, the average bill may increase by $45.50 per month, but the increase may be larger depending on household consumption. In general, the GNR It costs three times more than conventional gas.

In return, Énergir promises that the customer will be able to subtract 3.8 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year, which is 16,688 kilometres’ drive.

We pay more for the same gas

This is what tempts Florence and her husband, who decide to subscribe to the active profile to get 30% of the renewable gas in their home. But the couple soon felt cheated by Énergir’s offer.

I wanted renewable gas, but the truth is, we don’t have it at home. We have the same gas as other customers and we pay moreshe explains, frustrated.

In fact, there is no standalone network for GNR. Fossil natural gas and renewables mix in the same tube from the distributor and all customers get the same product.

currently , GNR It represents a very small part of all gases distributed by Énergir. Last year, this amounted to 0.6% of the total volume. This number is expected to rise to 1.2% this year and 2.4% in October 2024.

Radio Canada contacted, where Énergir denied hiding information from its customers. Énergir is very transparent about this and is very well explained, especially on our website.confirms Aline Arsenault, a spokesperson for the company.

The distributor values ​​that each time a customer buys GNRall molecules are integrated into the lattice allowing for an increased volume of regenerated gas.

Only customers who buy Molecule GNR You can claim your consumption and get discounts on greenhouse gases linkedAdds Ms. Arsenault.

Misleading, collectively says

For the Collectif Sortons du gaz, which includes Greepeace, Nature Québec and the David Suzuki Foundation, announcing misleading and misleading customers.

This offer leads one to believe that Énergir can provide housing in a personal way, while its network is unable to transport the two types of gas separately. However, this reality is not reflected in its advertising campaigns, which represents a lack of transparency.thinks Patrick Bonin of Greenpeace Canada, a spokesman for the group.

Regarding the Florence bill consulted by Radio Canada, Énergir asserts that it will consume the equivalent of 391 cubic meters of GNR annually. But the group maintains that assertion is false.

However, this volume is impossible to deliver to its address through the Énergir network, considering that there is only 1% of renewable gas mixed with 99% of fossil gas. In fact, you will receive a maximum of 13 cubic meters per year, or 1% of its consumption.says Mr. Bonin.

Énergir maintains, however, that the collective’s exit attests to a lack of knowledge of energy systems and the company claims to respect the Régie de l’énergie law. It is framed in law. Energy distributors, whether they transport electricity or natural gas, operate this wayas you say.

A misunderstood show

For Florence, the offer was poorly explained to consumers. She claims to have demanded an explanation from Engier, to no avail, and now wants to be reimbursed.

On the invoice it is written that they will supply your home appliances, but in reality they do not work for me. I think it’s important for people to know, because people are paying for it. We think we’re greener, but we’re not. We pay everyoneas you say.

This is in addition to the heavy track record of Énergir, which slows down the fight against climate change, misleads customers and engages in environmental washing. If they do not change their practices, we will consider all options. People are now being deceived into thinking they are buying something that has not been delivered to them.Mr. Bunin notes.

Énergir has no intention of changing its bid and says it wants an increase GNR to 5% in 2025.

Furthermore, for the second year in a row, EnerGear has launched a call for bids to ensure we meet our targets over the next few years.Ms. Arsenault concludes.