UNION GAS GIVES BACK TO COMMUNITIES WITH RECORD-BREAKING UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN

Employee donations and company matching dollars highest ever at $818,234

CHATHAM, ON, Dec. 9 /CNW/ - The annual employee fundraising campaign at Union Gas has raised more than $818,234, making it the largest annual United Way donation in the company's 100-year history.

"At Union Gas we are passionate about giving back to the communities where we live and work", said Julie Dill, President of Union Gas. "I am thrilled that our employees and retirees have once again demonstrated a profound spirit of caring and generosity by donating an all-time record amount to the United Way. We know that every dollar raised can change the living conditions for individuals and families for the better."

The Union Gas campaign is led by a dedicated and enthusiastic group of volunteers and all individual employee and retiree donations made during the campaign are matched dollar-for-dollar by Union Gas' parent company Spectra Energy - doubling the community benefit.

The $ 818,234 will be distributed to 26 United Way organizations across Ontario.

Annual support for United Way is one of the many ways Union Gas delivers on its commitment to be a partner of choice with the 400 communities it serves. This year alone, Union Gas also contributed nearly $1 million to charitable organizations across Ontario. In addition, Union Gas offers a Winter Warmth program that provides emergency relief for low-income families who are facing financial difficulties paying their natural gas bills during the cold winter months. Last year, it distributed more than $645,000 to families in need. To learn more about the Winter Warmth program, visit uniongas.com/community.

"Through the United Way campaign and programs such as Winter Warmth, we are making a difference for families in need," added Dill.

About Union Gas
Union Gas Limited is a major Canadian natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario with nearly 100 years of experience and service to customers. The distribution business serves 1.3 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in more than 400 communities across northern, southwestern and eastern Ontario. Union Gas's growing storage and transmission business offers premium storage and transportation services to customers at the Dawn Hub, the largest underground storage facility in Canada and one of the largest in North America.  It offers customers an important link in the movement of natural gas from Western Canadian and U.S. supply basins to markets in central Canada and the northeast U.S. Union Gas, one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2011, is a Spectra Energy (NYSE: SE) company with assets of $5 billion and approximately 2,200 employees. For more information, visit uniongas.com.

For further information:

Andrea Stass
Manager, Public Affairs and Media Relations
Union Gas Limited
Ph: 519 436-5490 or 1-800-571-8446 ext. 5490
Cell: 519 365-1010
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]