Union Gas lowers natural gas rates for fourth consecutive quarter

Commodity rates at their lowest level in ten years

CHATHAM, ON, Sept. 14 /CNW/ - Union Gas today announced a decrease in the rates customers will pay for natural gas beginning October 1 . Residential customers* who buy gas from the utility can expect a further 11 percent decrease in their annual natural gas bill. This marks the fourth time this year that Union Gas has reduced rates, which amounts to a total decrease of almost 45 percent (or about $615 ) since January, 2009.

"With the utility's rates at their lowest level in ten years, natural gas continues to be the best energy choice for consumers," said Steve Baker , vice president, Union Gas. "Recent discoveries of new domestic natural gas reserves combined with lower demand related to the recession have resulted in lower natural gas prices."

Natural gas is also the cleanest burning of all conventional fuels, producing 45 per cent less carbon dioxide than coal and 30 percent less than fuel oil when burned - which means using natural gas can help address a number of environmental concerns like climate change.

Along with lower rates, Union Gas customers can realize even greater savings by taking steps to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Energy conservation is an investment that offers savings and environmental benefits that continue year after year. More information, as well as conservation tips and tools, are available on the company's website at www.uniongas.com/energyefficiency.

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. A Spectra Energy (NYSE: SE) company, Union Gas has assets of $5 billion and approximately 2,200 employees. Visit uniongas.com for more information.

    
    * A typical residential customer in Union Gas' service territory uses
        2,600 cubic metres of natural gas a year for home and water heating.
        Savings are based on the annual bill for typical residential
        customers who buy their natural gas from the utility.
    

For further information: Union Gas Limited: Andrea Stass, Manager, Public Affairs and Media Relations Union Gas Limited, Ph: 1-800-571-8446 ext. 5490, Cell: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]