We could be digging a little deeper to pay for natural gas this winter if SaskEnergy receives approval for a rate increase.  The Crown corporation has applied for a 2.4% increase in their service delivery rate and if approved, it would be implemented November 1st, 2017.

The increase works out to about $1.65 per month for the average customer and CEO Ken From says the funds generated by the increase would go to support infrastructure grown and system safety.

"We're moving about 50% more gas in our system than we did in 2009." explained From. "The province is expanding, the population is expanding and industry is expanding and along with that expansion comes more pipelines, as well as more maintenance and monitoring of those pipelines."

SaskEnergy points out that last year they decreased their commodity rate by 14% saying the proposed increase is modest.