PNG rate increases 1998-2001 July 1 1998 13- 12 $. 11- p e r 10 1 9 Increases approved to date Proposed g increases a | & 0 u/ “ u ) 7 s 8 we “ a im rial Jan 1998 Oct 11999 Jan 1 2000 July 1 2000-Oct 12000 Jan 1 2001 @ Residential [Commercial The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, Cetober 4, 2000 - A13 4 | > TERRACE AND AREA HEALTH COUNCIL Completed application forms must be received by the CHE ne later than Tuesday, October 31, 2000 CALL FOR NOMINATIONS If you are interested in being appointed by the Ministry of Health to sit on the Terrace and Area Health Council please read on. We are now accepting applications from interested indi- viduals wishing to sit on the Board responsible for Mills Memorlal Hospital and Terraceview Lodge. You must be: ° 18 years of age or alder ¢ a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada * a resident of British Columbia for at least six months * a resident within the boundaries of the Terrace and Area Health Council (Terrace, Thornhill, Rosswood, Lakelse Lake, Cedarvale, Gitwangak, Gitanyow), For more Information please contact: GH. Let us send your old PD to the developing world. OPERATION EYESIGHT UNIVERSAL 1-800-585-8265 Charitable Registration # 11906 8955 RROOOE "Nancy Wilcox - Executive Assistant Terrace and Area Health Council 4720 Haugland Avenue. ~ Terrace, BC, V8G 2W7 Phone 250-638-4045 ~ Fax: 250-638-4017 E-mail: nwilcox@tahe.com y, Methanex closure behind PNG’s woes FINANCIAL pressure from its creditors, the possible loss of its biggest customer, and continued skyrocketing gas prices are ali behind Pacific Northern Gas (PNG) latest moves to jack ils natural gas rales. Increases of 10.9 per cent to residential customers and 23.5 per cent for busines- ses that took effect Oct. 1 are primarily ta reduce PNG’s reliance on short-term bor- rowing, said B.C. Utilities Commission executive director Bill Grant. The company has a number of ac- counts where it has been paying what has turned out to be more for gas than it has been charging customers. That money shorifall translates inta borrowing and borrowing is growing more difficult for PNG as a result of its public wrestling match with its biggest customer —- Methanex Corp, “PNG has become a more risky pipe- line and the financial community has re- acted to make it more difficult for them to borrow short-term money,” Grant said, It has responded by trying to reduce its short-term debt positions with the October rate increase, he added. “PNG. is trying. to,reduce,, those...ac-.... iy ere h counts to reduce effectively their own re- quirement for short-term cash,” he said. Further rate increases requested for Jan, 1 are almost entirely the result of ris- ing prices of natural pas. Actual gas costs this fall are running ahead of what PNG expected a couple of months ago, he said. “The forecast made in June has turned out to be low compared to what the costs have actually been and the forecast for price increases next year remains quite high,” he said. PNG also wants to dramatically in- crease the rates it charges Methanex to power its Kitimat methanol plant, That’s in contrast to Methanex de- mands right now for lower rates. It has threatened to never re-open its temporari- ly closed plant - which uses more of the gas PNG ships than all other users com- bined — without such a deal. Grant said PNG spent considerable money on its gas transmission system over the past two decades ta accommo- date Methanex needs, At the time, gas transmission rates were set so that Methanex would pay thase costs back over a long horizon ~ up to 50 years. Now with Methanex ready to leave forever, Grant said, PNG wants to force it to pay back as much of those costs as possible so other users don’t have to bear that burden. “PNG wants fo catch up on that now if Methanex is intending to close down,” he said, Similarly, he said, PNG wants to change the way it has up to now deferred taxes to Methanex’s benefit. That will en- able the gas company “to recover as much of that future tax liability has pos- sible from Methanex, Even if Methanex stays closed it will have to continue paying PNG for some time. It has one contract with PNG that lasts another two years and a second that lasts until mag With bath of them Methanex must p ;: y, 80. .. per. cent of the. contract value ee if tt doesnt use the gas" Those clauses mean other customers will be “substantially insulated” from the closure of Methanex for the next two years, Grant said. Still, the long-term viability of the gas line wilt be a big factor in the minds of commissioners at the hearing, he said. “It will be quite a balancing act,” he said of the need to protect ratepayers, tet Shareholders earn a reasonable return, and ensure the utility can deliver gas at com- petitive rates relative to other power sour- ces for the long-term. “The situation is not completely dire,” he added. “It looks manageable.” Grant hopes PNG and Methanex conti- nue talking and reach an agreement on rates. That’s because a deal would reduce the amount of further increases that other users would have to shoulder if Methanex closes forever, 100% Conadian “EITHER _ TSIMSHIAN . Wednesday, October 11 10:00 a.m. —4:00 p.m. Thursday, October 12 and Friday, October 13 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Kitsumkalum Community Hall Highway 16 West Terrace, B.C. The Tsimshian Tribal Council and the governments of British Columbia and Canada are continuing negotiations towards an Agreement-in-Principle under the British Columbia Treaty process. The chief negotiators invite the public to attend this above main table discussion. For more information, please contact: hs Canada Brmsit ma COLUMBIA Ministry of = Federal Treaty Tsimshian Aboriginal Negotiation — ‘tribal Council Affairs Office (250) 387-1119 1-800-665-9320 (250) 627-8782 Jacque Pleasants © Bernee Boulton Gerald Wesley http/Avwwv.2afgov.beca ¥ SS Place a classified word ad and... Reach INTRODUCIN G When you place a classified word ad in our newspaper, yout ad will automatically be posted on the Internet, for the entire duration of the booking. oS ‘TERRACE TANDARD | Ph: 250-638-7283 FAX 250-638-8432 —— a WHERE THE POWER OF THE CLASSIFIED AD MEETS THE | POWER OF THE INTERNET! http://www. bcclassified.com