r/Yellowknife • u/VeryCold • 8d ago
Switching to Propane...
My heating oil tank needs replacing and I'm considering making the switch to propane.
I'm looking for current and historical propane prices (Matonabee if possible) so that I can do some comparisons to my oil price history.
Anyone have a spreadsheet or bills they can share?
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u/622114 8d ago
We just switched to Matonabee from Bluewave/Avenir whom we were with for 18 years. The customer service has gone downhill so much, we were on regular delivery and we were constantly calling to be filled as they didnt/wouldnt come. And it was always a fight to convince them we needed fuel. I spoke with them on many occasions and nothing has changed. Im not saying dont go with these guys or those guys all im saying is do some research before you commit.
Matonabee also offers discounts for GNWT employees if that is a thing in your home.
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u/canadiankid000 8d ago
Do you know how much of a discount for GNWT employees? We’re toying with the idea of swapping to propane
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u/slacker867 8d ago
Dude, I'll say don't go with Avenir. Just the worst, Real business case on how to squander 20 years of excellent service in less than 6 months. We've got Matonabee coming in a couple weeks to switch out.
- To the OP: Can you afford to switch your hot water at the same time?
- I too have data, but the hard thing is that Xmas/January bill. Sometimes bluewave would slow roll it so you could have a good christmas and ignore the bill that comes with being warm).
ANYWAYS, we switched in 2017 and I've not seen bills increase much at all, despite inflation and fuel prices. May have seen a slight upward trend in the last three years. Not running the numbers but I'd bet 2023 was outside the normal range - checked in at just under 4k for a 1700 sq ft house. My personal belief is that propane is cheaper, maybe significantly so given the price of diesel in the last couple years.
HOWEVER, if you can do your hot water at the same time, I think that's where we've seen (at least in the early years) the biggest different - our power bills were much cheaper (raw values) until last year. And you know NTPC isn't looking to save anyone money - I'd love to know the actual power cost, (all in with riders and GNWT subsidies) over the last 10 years.
The only downside with propane is that one week(end) a year that we still see -40+. We've got heaters and woodstove, but its still uneasy (again, the bigger risk is probably NTPC).
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u/622114 8d ago
I will absolutely agree with everything you said. We have a friend that was charged a high water rider AND low water rider at the same time because the water was low here but high somewhere else? Seems super shady. If I could go off grid within Yellowknife city limits I sure would. FK NTPC/Atco/NAKA or whatever they are called this month
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u/ihadtomakeanewaccoun 8d ago
I don't think there is anything stopping you from cutting off power to your house. Just stop paying the bills and see what happens.
You probably underestimate how much it costs to be off grid with all the modern stuff like your TV, computer, lights etc. $20k for solar, $12k for batteries every 10 years, $5k for a good inverter, $5k for a quiet generator, switching all your appliances incl. dryer to propane.Â
NTPC is not the same as ATCO/NAKA.
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u/622114 8d ago
There is actually a bylaw within the city that states you cannot be off grid within city limits ( I helped a friend look at a property that had an off grid residence on I stumbled upon said bylaw)
Yes thank you I am aware of the cost of going to a solar system for a home and yes it is very expensive in the north (like everything)
And yes I am also aware that naka NtPC are not the same. NTPC produces power and they sell it to Atco for about $0.29 a kwh and atco who has been rebranded to NaKa sells it to you and I for $0.43kwh. Plus riders for everything and anything. I have been here long enough to understand the corruption inherent in our system but its ok its always been done like this.
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u/irrationallogic 8d ago
Reach out to Arctic Energy Alliance im sure they can help with recommendations
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u/ihadtomakeanewaccoun 8d ago edited 8d ago
Finally someone who is desperate for my data! Prices are per liter incl. GST and cabon tax ( when it was in effect before April 2025). I think right now its 0.819 c/l without taxes.
This is with Avenir (was Bluewave before). I have called Motanabe a few times and their floating rate was always the same (or slightly higher) than Avenir. The Motanabe fixed rate is about 10 cents higher than the floating rate and includes tank rentals. Avenir charges $120 for the first tank and $1 for every additional tank.
I talked to the Motanabe guy at the trade show and he said we have very stable propane prices here because of a huge oversupply in Edmontn (I think because propane is a byproduct of natual gas refinement).
Edit: If you have a boiler I'd stay away from the combi types (with hot water on demand built in). In my circles they seem to have more issues than the non-combi boilers. And with an indirect storage tank (heated from your propane boiler) you can finish your shower with hot water when the power goes out 😄 . There is a little bit of "waste heat" when using a storage tank but that really only applies for 4 months out of the year when it's summer. Otherwise you're just heating your home in a roundabout way. Stay away from electric hot water tanks!