Terasen Gas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Terasen Gas is the largest distributor of natural gas in British Columbia, Canada, serving approximately 920,000 customers in over 125 communities. The company owns and operates 44,100 kilometres of gas distribution pipelines and 4,300 kilometres of gas transmission pipelines. Its service territory includes Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and the southern interior of the province. Terasen Gas is regulated by the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC).
Contents |
[edit] History
On May 17, 2007, Fortis Inc. acquired Terasen Inc. from Kinder Morgan Inc. which owned the corporation since 2005. Terasen Gas, is the common name of Terasen Gas Inc., Terasen Gas (Vancouver Island) Inc., and Terasen Gas (Whistler) Inc. Terasen group of companies includes: Terasen Gas, Terasen Energy Services (TES) and Terasen Measurement.
[edit] Leadership
- Randall L. Jespersen, President and Chief Executive Officer Terasen Inc. and the Terasen Gas group of companies
- Dwain Bell, Vice President, Distribution Terasen Gas
- David C. Bennett, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs & General Counsel Terasen Inc. and Fortis BC Inc.
- Roger Dall'Antonia, Vice President, Corporate Development and Treasurer Terasen Inc.
- Cynthia Des Brisay, Vice President, Gas Supply and Transmission Terasen Gas
- Jan Marston Vice President, Human Resources & Operations Governance Terasen Gas
- Robert M. Samels, Vice President, Business Services and Chief Information Officer Terasen Gas
- Doug Stout, Vice President, Marketing and Business Development Terasen Gas
- Scott A. Thomson, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs & Chief Financial Officer Terasen Inc. and Terasen Gas.
[edit] Board of Directors
- H. Stanley Marshall (Chairman), President & Chief Executive Officer Fortis Inc.
- Harold Calla, Chair First Nations Financial Management Board
- Brenda Eaton, Chair, BC Housing
- Ida J. Goodreau, President and Chief Executive Officer Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
- Randall L. Jespersen, President and Chief Executive Officer Terasen Inc. and the Terasen Gas group of companies
- Harry McWatters, Founder and President Sumac Ridge Estate Wine Group
- Barry V. Perry, Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer Fortis Inc.
- Linda S. Petch, President Petch & Associates Management Consultants Ltd.
- David R. Podmore, President and Chief Executive Officer Concert Properties Ltd.
- John Walker, President and Chief Executive Officer FortisBC Inc.
[edit] Customer Choice
Formerly known as the commodity unbundling option, Customer Choice was made available to business customers in 2004. In 2007, responding to requests from customers who wanted the opportunity to choose how and where they purchased their natural gas, Customer Choice was then offered to residents. This marked the first time in BC that customers were allowed to choose who they purchased their natural gas from: Terasen Gas, which offered variable rates; or independent gas marketers offering fixed rates.
The program is managed by Terasen Gas, but overseen by the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), the provincial agency responsible for regulating utility companies.
[edit] Advertising
In 2008, Terasen Gas launched an advertising campaign introducing themselves as “comfort experts”. From that campaign, blue bunny slippers emerged as an icon frequently used in the company’s communications.
[edit] Rates
In June 2008, Terasen Gas proposed an 11% increase in gas prices, resulting in an increase of approximately $150 per year in customer gas bills[1]. The company purchases natural gas on the open market and passes it onto customers without any markup. Thus, profiting only from the cost of delivery. Natural gas rates are reviewed quarterly and customer rates are adjusted to match the trends in the market.
[edit] Biogas and Natural Gas
Terasen Gas, Metro Vancouver and QuestAir Technologies Inc., have been working on a $1.1 million project to heat homes using natural gas collected from human waste collected from the Lions Gate sewage treatment[2]. The Project, expected to be complete as early as July 2009, will meet the energy demands of up to 100 homes.
[edit] Mount Hayes Storage Project
Terasen Gas received final approval from the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) to construct a new natural gas storage facility west of Mt. Hayes on Vancouver Island, approximately six kilometers northwest of Ladysmith.
The site, which consists of approximately 42.7 hectares, was favoured by the community and public opinions gathered at open house sessions. The pipeline to the Terasen Gas mainline will not significantly affect local property or cross any streams or rivers. In addition, it is unobtrusive, maintains visual quality, meets land use objectives for the area, and provides ideal foundation and geotechnical conditions. Potential environmental and archaeological preservation values are expected to be minor.
[edit] Whistler Conversion
Conversion of the Resort Municipality of Whistler from propane to natural gas will take place over approximately 3 months in Spring 2009. Converting appliances to natural gas will be possible because the Terasen Gas Whistler Pipeline is being built in conjunction with the Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement Project. As approved by the Ministry of Transportation, the pipeline route mainly falls within the highway right of way. To date, approximately 34 kilometres of the 50-kilometre pipeline are in place
[edit] History Pre-Terasen Gas
- 1952: Inland Natural Gas was incorporated to distribute natural gas throughout the BC Interior. The company purchased several subsidiaries, including: St. John Oil and Gas, Peace River Transmission, Canadian Northern Oil and Gas and Grand Prairie Transmission.
- 1980’s: Inland Natural Gas purchased the Lower Mainland gas division from BC Hydro and changed its name to BC Gas serving 546,000 customers in 70 communities across BC.
- 2002: BC Gas purchased Centra Gas BC Inc. and Centra Gas Whistler Inc. adding 75,000 natural gas customers on the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island, and 2,000 piped propane customers in Whistler
- 2003: BC Gas Inc. became Terasen Inc.
[edit] External links
- Terasen Gas website
- Terasen Inc.
- Fortis Inc.
- Terasen Energy Services
- Terasen Measurement
- British Columbia Utilities Commission
- NaturalGas.org
[edit] References
- ^ Simpson, Scott "Terasen proposes 11 per cent hike for natural gas"Vancouver Sun, June 09, 2008
- ^ Simpson, Scott "Human waste proposed as source of natural gas"Vancouver Sun, July 22, 2008
