June 2, 2016
1419
The Municipality of Kincardine and EPCOR Utilities Inc. of Edmonton have confirmed with the provincial government that natural gas is part of Ontario's energy mix.
Last month, it was reported that the government was phasing out natural gas as a home-heating option for people in Ontario, and urging the public to switch to electricity.
Stuart Lee (above), chief executive officer of EPCOR, was in Kincardine Wednesday afternoon (June 1), to join deputy mayor Jacqueline Faubert and treasurer Roxana Baumann in a meeting with MPP Bob Delaney – parliamentary assistant to energy minister Bob Chiarelli.
[A Municipal Franchise Agreement has been approved and signed by Kincardine, Huron-Kinloss and Arran-Elderslie, providing EPCOR with the right to distribute natural gas within the three municipalities.]
In a discussion with local media, prior to the Kincardine council meeting Wednesday night, Lee said that the announcement last month, based on a leaked document, set the company back a bit.
“We're looking at a $100-million commitment here (with the South Bruce natural gas project),” he said. “We had to know if we should be concerned or not.
“We met with the finance minister and then today with Mr. Delaney and we were reassured that the information in that leaked document was not part of the government's policy. Natural gas is a fundamental part of Ontario's Long-Term Energy Plan.”
Lee said EPCOR will be encouraging people to convert to natural gas and did not want customers to make the conversion and then be forced to switch back to electricity.
“Our position has not wavered,” he said. “We are proud to be part of bringing natural gas to this region. We are committed to this project and we thank the community for its support.
"We welcome competition in the natural gas business, even though one competitor has tried to make it more difficult."
He said the Ontario Energy Board (OEB)'s generic hearing on natural gas, held last month, is part of the process. “We need to get on record the best structure for natural gas in Ontario."
Lee said the OEB decision should be released by September or October, after which EPCOR can proceed with its application to bring natural gas to Kincardine, Huron-Kinloss and Arran-Elderslie.
“This hearing has delayed our project by about a year,” he said.
Lee is familiar with the Kincardine area. He has a sister living in Collingwood, and has visited Goderich numerous times. However, this was his first trip to Bruce County and Kincardine. “You have one of the most beautiful parts of the country right here,” he said.
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
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