Regional Canadian Gas Markets

Market Overview

British Columbia is the second-largest producer of natural gas in Canada and the third-largest consumer, following Ontario and Alberta. In 2001, B.C. consumed 8.4 10⁹m³(297 Bcf) of natural gas with the residential sector accounting for 24% of demand, the industrial sector for 37%, the commercial sector for 16% and the power generation sector for 12%.

There are three LDCs in British Columbia: BC Gas, Pacific Northern Gas and Centra Gas. BC Gas is the largest utility and serves over 767,000 customers representing about 90% of natural gas consumers in the province. PNG delivers gas to about 40,000 customers in west-central and northeastern B.C. Centra serves about 72,000 customers on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. LDCs are regulated by the British Columbia Utilities Commission. A number of marketers also operate in B.C. but they currently only serve industrial and large commercial customers.

Source: NEB