About 4,000 Bobcaygeon homes, businesses to get natural gas expansion option

By Lindsay Advocate

Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock announced that nearly 4,000 homes and businesses in Bobcaygeon will be able to connect to natural gas for the first time through the province’s Natural Gas Expansion Program.

Under Phase 2 of the program, Ontario will allocate $68 million to support new connections to the natural gas distribution system and help make life more affordable in Bobcaygeon.

“Access to natural gas will help more families and businesses find energy savings, while promoting economic development and job creation,” said Scott in a media Zoom announcement.

The Ontario government is expanding access to natural gas across the province in partnership with Enbridge. Phase 2 of the Natural Gas Expansion Program will allocate more than $234 million to support approximately 8,750 connections in 43 rural, northern and Indigenous communities.

“Expanding access to natural gas provides an alternative source of energy that’s clean and affordable for residents and businesses in Bobcaygeon,” said Mayor Andy Letham. “On behalf of council, I’d like to thank the province, and our MPP Laurie Scott, who has been a champion of helping Kawartha Lakes with the infrastructure support needed to continue to enhance services for residents.”

Cynthia Hansen, executive vice president and president, gas distribution and storage, Enbridge Inc., said natural gas “is the most economic way to heat buildings and water, and we are excited to work with local officials and the community to move this project forward, so residents can benefit from the cost savings, and local businesses can be more competitive.”

When asked if there would be surcharges to switch to natural gas, Hansen deferred to Bill Walker, associate minister of energy, and then she promptly left the meeting.

Walker confirmed surcharges would be added but said these would be made up in cost savings over the years.

Construction for projects under Phase 2 will begin as soon as this year, with all 28 expansion projects expected to be underway by the end of 2025.

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