First Customers Connected to Natural Gas Expansion Project in North Bay
March 12, 2021Provincial initiative will help make life more affordable for local families and businesses
NORTH BAY – Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing announced the Northshore and Peninsula Roads, North Bay Project, has connected its first 40 customers to natural gas. The switch to natural gas will save average local households up to 43 per cent off their annual energy bills.
“We are thrilled that residents and businesses in this area of North Bay are connected to affordable natural gas to heat their homes and run their businesses,” said MPP Vic Fedeli. “This important work has continued despite the pandemic to enable local customers to save money now and into the future by switching to natural gas.”
Approximately 400 customers are expected to be connected over the next ten years, which includes current and predicted connections with new builds.
“This is an important milestone for households and businesses in North Bay,” said Bill Walker, Associate Minister for Energy. “Making progress on projects like this one shows that our government is delivering on its promise to put more money in people’s pockets, and making Northern communities more attractive for job creation.”
The Natural Gas Expansion Program represents the largest government-led initiative to facilitate new natural gas connections across the province. The first phase of the program launched in 2019, with two projects fully complete and four more underway. The provincial government will continue to expand access to natural gas to more families and businesses throughout rural, Northern and Indigenous communities in Ontario by implementing Phase 2 of the Natural Gas Expansion Program in Spring 2021.
“This natural gas expansion project is providing residents in the Northshore and Peninsula roads area with a more affordable and efficient option to heat their homes,” said North Bay Mayor Al McDonald. “I’m pleased to see that the first group of customers have been connected and would like to thank the Ontario government and Enbridge Gas for expanding access to natural gas in our community.”
“I’m pleased to welcome our first Northshore and Peninsula Roads community expansion project customers to Enbridge Gas. They join the 3.8 million Ontario homes and businesses that already enjoy the benefits natural gas offers. Our new customers are connecting to the comfort of knowing their energy choice is an affordable, safe and reliable fuel source that’s part of Ontario’s low-carbon future.” Cynthia Hansen, Executive Vice President & President, Gas Distribution and Storage, Enbridge Inc.
QUICK FACTS
- The Northshore and Peninsula Roads project, developed by Enbridge under Phase 1 of Ontario’s Natural Gas Expansion Program, will benefit from up to $8.7 million in eligible funding to expand natural gas access.
- Since its launch in 2019, the Natural Gas Expansion Program has made several projects eligible for financial support. These projects are expected to connect over 9,000 customers in 16 communities to natural gas.
- The Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines is reviewing Phase 2 submissions and assessing them against program criteria. Successful Phase 2 projects will be announced in Spring 2021.