The province is going to spend $100-million to help Ontario's rural communities get off electric heat.
That's good news for Union Gas.
Spokesperson Andrea Stass thinks the grant program will help the company move forward on its commitment to bring affordable and clean energy to more households.
"We hear from customers everyday looking for access to natural gas," Stass says. "We've been actively working with the Ontario Energy Board and with the government to try and advocate for additional funds for gas service and for new regulatory framework for us to be able to serve communities."
Consumers switching to natural gas are expected to save more than $1,000 a year. Details are limited, but in a news release the provincial goernment says the program will begin accepting applications this spring.
Union Gas is looking to put forth a proposal to the Ontario Energy Board at the end of March.
"The Ontario Energy Board released a new regulatory framework for extending gas service to new communities," says Stass. "So we're actually currently undertaking studies to determine which projects we can move forward under that framework, and we intend to submit a revised proposal for the expansion of natural gas."
Stass says Union Gas will work collaboratively with municipalities and First Nations communities looking for service.
"For many rural and remote communities the cost to get natural gas service is much higher than it is in more largely populated areas, so it has been a challenge to be able to serve those areas," she says. "I think this is a really positive move, in that there is natural gas grant funding available that may help those communities."
