Fortis BC
FortisBC Inc is an electric power and gas distribution/retail company in the Canadian province of British Columbia and a subsidiary of Fortis Inc. Newfoundland-based Fortis Inc. is Canada’s largest private utility company. On March 1, 2011, Terasen Gas—British Columbia's largest natural gas distributor—has been renamed FortisBC Energy Inc., as both companies are owned by Fortis Inc.
FortisBC (electricity) serves approximately 111,500 customers directly in communities throughout south central British Columbia, including Kelowna, Osoyoos, Trail, Castlegar, Princeton and Rossland and approximately 48,500 customers through the wholesale supply of power to municipal distributors in the communities of Summerland, Penticton, Kelowna, Grand Forks, and Nelson.
FortisBC (natural gas) serves approximately 920,000 customers in over 125 communities. Rates for different areas of service vary by over 60%; customers in the Lower Mainland pay $8.897 per gigajoule, whilst customers a couple of dozen kilometers away on Vancouver Island pay $14.325 per GJ. The company owns and operates 44,100 kilometres of gas distribution pipelines and 4,300 kilometres of gas transmission pipelines. Its service territory includes Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and the southern interior of the province. FortisBC (natural gas) also develops alternative energy systems, such as geoexchange and district energy systems for communities and municipalities. The company also produces renewable natural gas—a locally sourced carbon-neutral product created from landfill and agricultural waste.
Together, FortisBC (electricity) and FortisBC (natural gas) deliver over 20% of total energy consumed in B.C. and serve more than 1.1 million customers in more than 135 communities.
The British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) regulates both FortisBC Inc. and FortisBC Energy Inc.; rates are set within a framework combining cost of service and performance-based regulation. This framework is intended to encourage FortisBC to operate efficiently by permitting its shareholders and customers to share in cost savings if specified targets are met.
Read more about Fortis BC: Services, Leadership, FortisBC Inc. Facilities and Generation, FortisBC Energy Inc. Offerings