XPost: bc.politics, van.general   
   From: Çons@32%   
      
   Then this recently-American-owned company is coming for you too.  BC Hydro is   
   doing their   
   number on homes that use electricity; Fortis is going to increase their rates   
   on natural gas   
   users.  And BC Hydro has even introduced a 'rate rider' for "covering costs of   
   incidentals,   
   like power outages".   
      
   And the BC 'Liberals' have introduced another environmental fee - a flat   
   amount at the cash   
   register based on the cost of any item you buy which uses batteries or plugs   
   into an electrical   
   socket.   
      
   Are we having any fun yet under this government we have in BC ?   
   __________________________________________   
      
   Fortis seeks to hike some B.C. natural gas rates   
   Natural gas rates could rise by 4.5 per cent if application approved   
   CBC News   
   Posted: Feb 9, 2012 8:00 AM PT   
   Last Updated: Feb 9, 2012   
     Fortis BC wants to give some customers a break on their natural gas bills,   
   but the move could   
   also mean higher costs for others.   
   Spokeswoman Kirsten Walker says currently customers are billed under three   
   different rate   
   structures in B.C., depending on where they live, so the gas company has   
   submitted an   
   application to the B.C. Utilities Commission to introduce a single gas rate   
   across the province   
   by 2014   
      
   "For example on Vancouver island, the Sunshine Coast, and Whistler our   
   customers can expect to   
   see about a 26 to 37 per cent rate decrease. And this is because they are   
   currently paying   
   rates that are much higher than the rest of the province," said Walker.   
      
   But under that plan, the rest of B.C. would be hit with a 4.5 per cent   
   increase in natural gas   
   rates.   
      
   Fortis B.C. is a privately operated gas and energy company, owned and run by   
   Newfoundland-based   
   Fortis Inc., but its rates are controlled by the B.C. Utilities Commission.   
      
   _____________________________________   
      
   Terasen Gas to be known as FortisBC effective March 1, 2011   
   Although Terasen Gas is changing its name, there is no change to the legal   
   status of the   
   companies comprising Terasen Gas and FortisBC.  Fortis will pay Houston-based   
   Kinder Morgan   
   Inc. $3.7 billion for the natural gas distribution business of Terasen.   
   Terasen Gas owns and   
   operates 44,100 kilometres of natural gas distribution pipelines and 4,300   
   kilometres of   
   natural gas transmission pipelines.   
      
   --   
   *******************************************************   
   "We CAN look after each other better than we do today.   
   We CAN have a fiscally responsible government.   
   We CAN have a strong economy; greater equality; a clean environment.   
   We CAN be a force for peace in the world."                      - Jack Layton   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)