The British Columbia Utilities Commission approved a 1% interim increase to FortisBC Inc.'s general electric rates, effective Jan. 1, 2020.

The new rate will result in an increase of C$1 for average customers, but the company said in a Dec. 20 news release that the rate changes will depend on individual usage. This is the first rate increase since 2017.

The Fortis Inc. utility is also phasing out two-tiered rates.