SURREY, B.C.- Terasen Gas is working to help British Columbians save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower their energy bills through a new Energy Efficiency and Conservation Application filed with the B.C. Utilities Commission today.

 

“Natural gas plays an important role in B.C.’s energy mix,” said Randy Jespersen, Terasen Inc. President and CEO. “Terasen Gas delivers 20 per cent of the energy consumed in the province which is about equal to the amount of electricity used in B.C. This make energy efficiency and conservation an ongoing priority for us - in our own operations and also for our customers.”

 

“If approved, our application will significantly enhance the energy efficiency tools and incentives we provide to residential customers and businesses,” said Jespersen. “Such enhancements will help customers save energy, lowering their annual bills and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

 

The application requests $56.6 million in funding for programs and initiatives that by the end of 2010 would help British Columbians collectively reduce their natural gas use by about 1.5 million gigajoules per year, enough to serve 15,000 new households annually.

 

These energy savings would generate long-term financial and environmental benefits. Customers would collectively lower their annual natural gas bills by approximately $19 million and realize those financial savings each year over the lifespan of the appliance or system installed as a result of programs stemming from the application. Environmental benefits would include reducing 78,500 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually, the equivalent of removing almost 16,000 vehicles from the road each year.

 

For residential gas customers, the application means Terasen Gas’s historic equipment upgrade offers would expand beyond furnaces to include fireplaces, water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines and clothes dryers.

 

Commercial and institutional buildings present other considerable opportunities for energy savings. Programs would be launched for retrofits of existing boilers with more efficient models, and for building re-commissioning.

 

Terasen Gas’s application supports many of the key policy actions called for in the Government of British Columbia’s 2007 Energy Plan, including: encouraging utilities to pursue cost-effective, conservation and energy efficiency opportunities; ensuring a coordinated approach to conservation and efficiency is actively pursued in B.C.; and policy actions around BC Hydro’s conservation goals and provincial energy self-sufficiency.

 

Terasen Gas is requesting a decision on the application by August 15, 2008. If approved, programs would start to roll out this fall providing Terasen Gas Inc. and Terasen Gas (Vancouver Island) Inc. customers with the same access to energy saving opportunities.

 

Today’s application builds on the company’s efficiency and conservation activities over the past six years which have incented B.C. residents to reduce their annual consumption by almost one million gigajoules, realizing more than $7 million in savings and seeing a reduction of 50,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

 

Terasen Gas delivers natural gas and propane through three companies that make up the Terasen Gas group: Terasen Gas Inc., Terasen Gas (Vancouver Island) Inc. and Terasen Gas (Whistler) Inc. The companies share common Terasen Inc. ownership and are indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of Fortis Inc. Fortis Inc., the largest investor-owned distribution utility in Canada, serves two million gas and electric customers and has more than $10 billion of assets. 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.

 

Media contact:
Joyce Wagenaar
Director, Corporate and Marketing Communications
(604) 592-7682
joyce.wagenaar@terasengas.com