SURREY, B.C. – Terasen Gas has awarded construction contracts to IDL Projects Inc., Northway Glass Inc. and Prince Sheet Metal & Heating for completion of approximately $4-million in renovations and upgrades at the new customer contact centre in Prince George. Bids from 14 companies were considered for the renovation work, which is expected to begin this week and take four months to complete.

 

“Response from the local community has been outstanding, and we were glad to have received 11 of the 14 bids from companies located in the area,” said Jan Marston, Vice President of Customer Care, Terasen Gas and FortisBC. “Prince George is one of the communities that we are invested in, and we are pleased to award the contracts to companies local to the area, reflecting our commitment to the communities we serve.”

 

Renovations include substantial upgrades to the building envelope, and the facility’s mechanical, heating and cooling systems. Improvements to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system will include replacing the existing gas fired boiler, which achieves an energy efficiency of approximately 80 per cent, to a new high efficiency boiler, which will achieve 97 per cent efficiency – a reflection of Terasen’s role as a leading energy solutions provider.

 

Additional efficiencies will be achieved through the replacement of the existing electrical systems and sustainable choices in the lighting design. For example, lighting in the building will be controlled by occupancy sensors.

 

“We are very pleased with Terasen's significant investment, which will help catalyze and shape development in downtown Prince George,” said Tim McEwan, President and CEO of Initiatives Prince George Development Corporation. “We are delighted that Prince George firms have been chosen by Terasen Gas to undertake this work.”

 

On July 8, Terasen Gas unveiled its design and renovation plans for the contact centre, which follow the principles and guidelines of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) by focusing on recycled and recyclable materials, where feasible, using natural light, and retaining existing elements, such as doors, frames and walls to reduce landfill.

 

The inspiration for the design of the facility came from the idea of the “forest at springtime,” a reflection of Prince George’s history in the forest industry, as well as the notion of growth and renewal. Locally grown wood, including Douglas Fir and beetle kill pine, will be used in feature areas, such as the reception.

 

“This project is yet another success for our downtown,” said Mayor Dan Rogers, City of Prince George. “Construction upgrades to the contact centre will enhance the heart of our city and displays the confidence Terasen Gas has in the future of Prince George.”

 

The contact centre renovation is part of Terasen’s move to an in-house customer care model, with two new contact centres, and a new customer information and billing system. The centre in Prince George is home to the first of two B.C.-based contact centres, and will create more than 100 new jobs. A second centre, planned for the Lower Mainland, will create approximately 200 additional jobs to support both contact centre and billing operations.

 

Recruitment and hiring of a local workforce for both contact centres will commence in June 2011, with the new centres and services expected to be in place by January 2012.

 

Design plans for the Prince George contact centre are available for media. To learn more about Terasen Gas, visit www.terasengas.com 
 
Terasen Gas is mainly composed of the operations of Terasen Gas Inc. and Terasen Gas (Vancouver Island) Inc., both indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of Fortis Inc. Fortis Inc., the largest investor-owned distribution utility in Canada, serves approximately 2,100,000 gas and electric customers and has total assets exceeding $12 billion. Its regulated holdings include Terasen Gas and electric utilities in five Canadian provinces and three Caribbean countries. Fortis Inc. owns non-regulated hydroelectric generation assets across Canada and in Belize and upper New York State. It also owns hotels and commercial real estate in Canada. Fortis Inc. shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and trade under the symbol FTS. Additional information can be accessed at www.fortisinc.com or www.sedar.com
 
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Kirsten Walker
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