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Union Gas head recognized by Ontario Energy Association

Noting the effort that goes on behind the scenes, a recent leadership honour from the Ontario Energy Association should be recognized as a team award, says the head of Union Gas.

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Noting the effort that goes on behind the scenes, a recent leadership honour from the Ontario Energy Association should be recognized as a team award, says the head of Union Gas.

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Steve Baker, president of the utility, received the OEA Leader Award for contributions to the energy sector over the past year.

The OEA awards also include such areas as customer service, innovation and employee excellence.

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“I’m certainly honoured and humbled to receive the award and the recognition from my peers and other leaders in the industry,” Baker told The Daily News. “But from my perspective it’s really a Union Gas award.

“I could never do what I do without all the talented and dedicated group of leaders and employees all across the company.”

With the booming demand for natural gas, particularly for residential and economic development in rural areas, the utility has been undertaking a number of infrastructure improvements.

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Baker said Union Gas supports the ongoing expansion of access to communities currently without it.

“We’re looking forward to working with the new government on their new program and draft legislation that was recently introduced by Minister (Monte) McNaughton,” he said. “(There is) some work on the horizon there.”

In the Kingsville and Leamington areas, Baker said the greenhouse industry has been driving the increased growth.

The utility recently received Ontario Energy Board approval for its $106-million Kingsvillle reinforcement project.

“We are looking to have that new infrastructure in place by November of 2019,” Baker said.

Overall, ratepayers are looking at a reprieve due to the cancellation of the cap-and-trade program.

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“The cost for cap and trade will be coming off our bills, effective Oct. 1,” Baker said. “That’ll save customers in our franchise area approximately $80 a year.”

As for the new powerhouse currently under construction at the Chatham headquarters, Baker expects it will be completed later this fall.

The powerhouse is being relocated from beside the river to “put it out of harm’s way” during flooding, he added.

Baker also touched on the potential merger with Enbridge, which is still in the works but not finalized.

“We’ll be looking to target a decision shortly in terms of whether we’re going to proceed or how we’re going to proceed with the amalgamation of the two utilities,” he said. “Some more to come there.”

When asked about any possible implications to the Chatham site should the merger go through, Baker said it was too soon to say.

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However, he added the community will continue to have an important role in the utility’s future.

“One of the commitments that we had made to Chatham-Kent when we were going through the process of filing the application was that any impacts that would come from potentially bringing the two utilities together would be managed approximately (and) proportionally between Toronto and Chatham.

“That was really a commitment to provide assurance to Chatham-Kent that we are going to continue to have a significant presence in the community going forward.”

tterfloth@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/DailyNewsTT

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