TORONTO - Natural gas customers in Ontario will be paying more to heat their homes.

The Ontario Energy Board approved rate increases today for Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc., Natural Resource Gas Ltd. and Union Gas Ltd.

It estimates that the impact on typical Enbridge customers will be an increase of about $25 per year and Natural Resource Gas customers will be paying about $22 more per year.

The impact on Union Gas customers in southern Ontario will be about $24 per year, while customers in the rest of the province will see average increases of between $38 and $40.

The rates are effective Oct. 1.

Bills are set to rise again next year, when the Liberal government's cap-and-trade plan begins and is expected to add $5 a month to home heating bills.