Entering British Columbia’s competitive natural gas supplier market, Centrica plc subsidiary Direct Energy said Tuesday that it has begun offering price protection plans for natural gas that are carbon neutral, which is a first in Canada. The company said the move will make it easy for British Columbians to offset greenhouse gas emissions caused by their natural gas consumption.

Direct Energy launched a number of choices this week for British Columbia consumers as new regulations take effect, allowing residential consumers to choose their natural gas supplier for the first time in the province’s history.

“British Columbia’s new competitive residential gas market allows us to offer customers the option to significantly reduce their carbon footprint at home,”said Clinton Roeder, Direct Energy senior vice president of energy services.

Consumers who choose Direct Energy to supply their natural gas will be able to purchase price protection plans for one-, three-, or five-year terms. Each plan guarantees a stable rate for the duration of the contract. For customers who choose the green option, Direct Energy will buy certified carbon emission credits to offset 100% of the pollution released into the atmosphere when gas is consumed. Furthermore, the company noted that the carbon-neutral option is available on every protection plan it offers in British Columbia.

“Whether they choose a carbon neutral product or not, customers who sign a natural gas contract put themselves in a position to benefit from the security of a fixed rate,” the company said.

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