A14 - The Terrace Stondard, Wednesday, September 20, 2000 Stunning rise of natural gas rates isn't over yet HOMEOWNERS across the northwest are paying 68 per cent more for natur- al gas right now than they were lwo years ago. The history of gas rate increases approved -by the B.C. Utilities Commission shows the steepest in- creases have come in the past year, On Oct. I, 1999 the total rate ~ which com- bines the gas supply charge and the delivery charge -—climbed 8 per cent, On Jan. 1, 2000, the commission granted Paci- fic Northern Gas a. further 12 per cent increase. Then on July 1st it ap- proved a 24 per cent hike. With natural gas charges now at $9.17 per gigajoule, the typical resi- dential customer will now pay $1,340 over the course of a year. That's up nearly $500 from the $850 an average customer paid two years ago when the rate was $5.46 per gigajoule. It’s alsc been bad for businesses. The commercial rate PNG charges, which is only slightly less than the residential rate, has risen more than 72 per cent aver the past year. The higher charges so far have been the result of scaring natural gas prices that now stand at record highs and a case of de- mand pushing up prices Natural gas prices to residential customers Delivery cost $ 10° p e 8 r 7 6 g i 4 g a 4 j 3 o 2 u | 1 e Q- _ T July 1998 to July 2000 Gas cost [| Total rate across North America. Electricity producers in eastern Canada and the U.S. have been switching in large numbers from heavy fuel oil to natural gas, says the commission's Rob Pellatt. That, plus the opening of the new Alliance pipe- line that funnels Canadian natural gas into the Chica- go area, has created new demand for gas and driven prices way up. In addition, soaring crude oil prices have prompted some industrial users to switch to natural gas, further contributing ta demand. “It’s going to be a grim winter,” Pellatt said. So far the rise in prices charged here by PNG has been attributed to the in- creases in the cost of the gas itself. But what’s being felt so far is just the beginning of the pain northwesterners should be bracing for. The other component of the gas price — the trans- mission or delivery charge — is expected to start to rise as well. That’s because Metha- nex and PNG are close to a deal to give the former’s methanol plant located in Kitimat a break on the price it pays for gas trans- mission. If that happens, every- one else's gas delivery charges will go up. But if there is no deal, and Methanex carries out its threat to permanently household furnishings. The Kitimat and Terrace Fire Departments are requesting donations of surplus The furnishings will be used in live-lire practice sessions to closely simulate real house fire situations. It is a rare opportunity that firefighters can practice in a near real setting. The practice sessions are scheduled for late September through to mid November. The furnishing needed range widely from lamps, coffee/end tables, upholstered furniture, kitchen tables, shelving, beds, dressers, etc. if you can help with this important initiative, Williams Moving and Storage has donated containers that are located at the Kitimat Fire Hall and the Terrace Fire Hall. Some home pick-ups can be arranged if needed. In Kitimat call 632-8763 and in Terrace call 638-4734. Each family dropping off their own surplus furnishings at either Fire Hall are eligible to enter a draw for a trip for two to Vancouver on the new Hawkair Service. There will be a draw held at each location. Your local firefighters thank you for your generous support and assistance. ‘WHEN SERVICE, EXPERIENCE - MATT BONE. * We carry a Complete Selection of AUTO PARTS & ACCESSORIES at very competitive prices. BESTBUY a ——— AUTO PARTS POLARIS PIECES (AUTO close its plant, PNG would seek even higher gas de- livery charge increases. That’s because Metha- nex is PNG’s biggest cus- tomer. According to the utili- ties commission, rate in- creases so far haven’t yet caught up with the in- creased costs, Becanse 1999 rates weren’t yet high enough, a negative balance built up that year in a deferral. ac- count used to track how closely customer revenue matches the actual costs, it said in a letter to users. “Rates for 2000 include gas cost surcharges that are expected to pay back one-third of the account balance in 2000.” gas . a) 0-6107-16 iso road carotty ‘ Foleaw inatucikons ilstod below DEPARTMENT OF HIGH SPEED INTERNET => ‘ohsnet 94 5 ‘SPEEDING TICKET {ISSUED TO S Aexvace Residents "..SSUED ON | : | mon wives Gweo @THUAS GA FAI wi sat a ISSUED FOR havlng A consistently fast Unternet connection from telus.net GED TRAVELLED Sree up to 450 times faster than : * dialup MOACM . 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