PIPELINES / Westcoast Energy Rejects BC Gas Demand for Abbreviated
Approval Process for Southern Crossing
WESTCOAST ENERGY INC.
TSE, VSE, ME SYMBOL: W
NYSE SYMBOL: WE
DECEMBER 15, 1998
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--Westcoast Energy Inc. today rejected
BC Gas' demand for an abbreviated approval process for the
Southern Crossing pipeline proposal and instead called for a full
public review of the re-filed proposal by BC Gas to build a $350
million pipeline across Southern BC.
In April 1998, after an extensive regulatory review, the British
Columbia Utilities Commission ("BCUC") denied the application by
BC Gas to build the Southern Crossing pipeline.
"The BCUC has already rejected the BC Gas Southern Crossing
proposal. It was turned down by the BCUC last April and it should
be turned down again because the proposal hasn't really changed,"
said Art Willms, President and Chief Operating Officer of
Westcoast.
"The real question is who is going to pay for this pipeline?" said
Mr. Willms. "This proposal, as filed, is inadequate and deficient
in the information it provides. It isn't possible, based on the
information provided, to calculate an exact number; but based on
their first filing, we believe that this pipeline proposal will
cost the residential customers of BC Gas at least an extra $100.00
a year, each and every year for the next thirty years."
"This is a serious consumer issue where an unnecessary expense
will be dumped on the shoulders of the consumers of British
Columbia," said Mr. Willms. "BC Gas wants to build a major
pipeline that will increase their customer's gas bill by at least
20 percent. There are better options."
Mr. Willms expressed concern that BC Gas was asking the BCUC to
approve a few minor changes to the original Southern Crossing
project without a full review of all the other deficiencies noted
in the April 1998 BCUC decision.
"This Southern Crossing proposal seeks to completely change many
key components of the BC economy. We believe the people of
British Columbia need to know all the implications of this
proposal before decisions are made," concluded Mr. Willms.
|
