Natural gas conservation needed throughout the winter

SURREY, BC, Oct. 22, 2018 /CNW/ - Due to transmission constraints, FortisBC is reaching out to customers to let them know that our regional natural gas supply, including the province, will be limited to 50 to 80 per cent of normal levels. This means that the natural gas system will be challenged in times of high demand throughout the winter. As such, FortisBC is asking all of its customers to be conscious of their natural gas use and conserve energy wherever possible.

On Friday, October 19^th, Enbridge released a statement announcing that, subject to regulatory approval, they expect their ruptured 36-inch natural gas transmission line to be repaired and in service by mid-November. However, both the 36 and 30-inch transmission lines will only be running at 80 per cent capacity and are not expected to return to maximum operating pressure throughout the winter.

We are actively working to make more gas available for our customers. For example, we've worked with TransCanada to maximize output of the Southern Crossing pipeline that feeds into the Interior from Alberta and are actively working with industrial customers to optimize their energy use – keeping them running while minimizing system impacts. We are also working on securing additional natural gas in the open marketplace to best support the province's gas supply.

We appreciate the efforts made by our customers thus far in conserving natural gas and encourage them to continue to limit their natural gas use wherever possible to ensure all our customers across the province are able to access natural gas for essential uses.

Watch a video address from Doug Stout, vice president of market development and external relations, for additional information and visit FortisBC.com for updates and to access simple conservation techniques.

SOURCE FortisBC

MEDIA CONTACT: Sean Beardow, Manager, Corporate Communications, FortisBC, Phone: [phone], Email: [email protected], 24-hour media line: 1-855-322-6397, fortisbc.com, @fortisBC