By The Canadian Press

Pipeline blast forces FortisBC to the open market for natural gas supply

Nov 7, 2018 | 3:21 PM

VANCOUVER — FortisBC is looking at several options to boost its stock of natural gas in an effort to get its customers through the winter after a pipeline blast squeezed off supply.

Sean Beardow, manager of corporate communications with Fortis, says the flow through the Enbridge pipeline that exploded in flames near Prince George last month has reached about 55 per cent, far below what they’ll need this winter.

He says the company is getting more fuel from an Alberta pipeline and has received permission from the B.C. Utilities Commission to purchase natural gas on the open market.

He says they’re looking at on the spot market to import compressed and liquefied natural gas.

Enbridge has said it wants to get its pipeline capacity up to 80 per cent after the unexplained explosion, but Beardow says that won’t be enough to get them through the winter, especially if it’s cold.

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