EDMONTON - Albertans will save approximately $14 on their October gas bill due to the province's rebate program.

Rebates are triggered when two of the three regulated natural gas companies charge regulated rates above $5.50 per gigajoule. Most residential consumers will have the rebate applied directly to their monthly gas bill.

Large scale commercial or industrial consumers, select agricultural producers, and those who heat their homes with other fuels need to apply for rebates.

The program runs from October to March for most consumers, the time when residences use about 80 per cent of the total natural gas consumed for the year.

Rebate amounts increase as the price of natural gas rises, with the maximum cost of natural gas to most Alberta consumers capped at $8.75 per gigajoule.

Since 2003, the Natural Gas Rebate Program has provided more than $1.8 billion in assistance to Alberta consumers.

Homes and businesses using either the regulated rate or a competitive contract rate receive rebates under the program.

The rebates are provided to Albertans using natural gas, propane, kerosene, heating oil, and in certain special circumstances, electricity.