La Ronge Natural Gas Deadline Looms

La Ronge Natural Gas Deadline Looms

Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at 13:17

 

 

It appears SaskEnergy’s plan to bring natural gas to La Ronge is in jeopardy.

 

With just over two weeks to go until its self-imposed January 31st deadline for 500 commitments, SaskEnergy says it has 176 customers signed up.

 

Officials with the utility have previously said that if they don’t get the necessary sign-ups in time, the project won’t proceed as scheduled.

 

SaskEnergy was hoping to start building a natural gas pipeline to Weyakwin and La Ronge this year, and have the service available by the spring of 2008.

 

Those plans were announced in late October.

 

Executive vice-president Dean Reeve says SaskEnergy officials are encouraged by the initial response, and believe they will still meet their customer sign-up goal.

 

However, he says its very important that interested homeowners and businesses that have yet to sign up do so by the end of the month.

 

SaskEnergy also announced today that Conexus Credit Union is offering rates as low as prime + 1% for natural gas-related loans in order to encourage potential customers.

 

Saskatchewan Property Management is the latest commercial customer to commit to the natural gas offering in La Ronge. With 14 facilities in La Ronge and area, SPM is also the largest commercial customer to commit so far.