News Release
HRM Welcomes Heritage Gas Franchise Acceptance
(Tuesday, June 3/2003)-- Mayor Peter Kelly today welcomed the announcement by Heritage Gas that it intends to accept the gas distribution franchise for Nova Scotia.
Mayor Kelly said natural gas distribution will offer residents of HRM another energy option and provide the municipality with a new tax revenue source. Natural gas could be available to some customers in HRM by as early as this year.
Heritage Gas is a partnership of SaskEnergy Inc., Scotia Investments Limited and AltaGas Services Inc. It was awarded the right to distribute natural gas in Nova Scotia by the Utilities and Review Board in February.
The Mayor said HRM has supported the Heritage Gas franchise application in a number of ways, such as providing engineering support; access to GIS information; and by assuming a key role in the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities (UNSM) tax model discussions and assigning HRM staff to perform supporting analytical work.
He said "HRM was pleased to work with Heritage Gas in the preparation of its franchise application, and we were pleased to work with the UNSM in negotiating a tax model agreement so that municipalities throughout the province can benefit through new revenues generated as a result of natural gas distribution."
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Mayor Peter Kelly
(902) 490-4010
