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www.insidehalton.com |O A K V ILLE B E A V E R |Thursday, Decem ber 7, 2 0 1 7 |2 0 O N TA R IO E N E R G Y B O A R D N O T IC E TO C U S T O M E R S O F E N B R ID G E G AS D IS T R IB U T IO N IN C . A N D U N IO N GAS LIM ITE D Fare Share puts out call for Christmas donations by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff E n b rid g e G as D is trib u tio n In c. an d U nion G as L im ited have ap p lie d fo r a p p ro v a l to a m a lg a m a te to fo rm a sin g le g a s d is trib u tio n , tra n s p o rta tio n an d s to ra g e co m p an y . L e arn m o re. H a v e y o u r say. Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. and Union Gas Limited have applied to the Ontario Energy Board to amalgamate to form a single natural gas distribution, transportation and storage company effective January 1, 2019. The amalgamated utility would serve over 3.5 million natural gas customers in Ontario. Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. and Union Gas Limited say that their customers will not pay any costs related to the amalgamation and that if the Ontario Energy Board approves the amalgamation, customers will receive a total benefit of $410 million over a ten-year period. The rates that Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. and Union Gas Limited currently charge customers are set using two separate frameworks that expire at the end of 2018. The Ontario Energy Board would normally review the costs of each of the gas utilities to set new rates starting in 2019. In a separate application, Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. and Union Gas Limited have asked the Ontario Energy Board to defer its full review of their costs for 10 years and have proposed a methodology for setting rates from 2019 to the end of 2028 using a formula. The Ontario Energy Board will review this rate proposal in a separate proceeding. You can review the notice and related documents for that proceeding at www.oeb.ca/EnbridgeUnionRateFramework. THE ONTARIO ENERGY BOARD IS HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING The OEB will hold a public hearing to consider the application filed by Enbridge Gas and Union Gas. We will question both companies on the case. We will also hear arguments from individuals and from groups that represent the customers of both Enbridge Gas and Union Gas. At the end of this hearing, the OEB will decide whether to approve the application. The OEB is an independent and impartial public agency. We make decisions that serve the public interest. Our goal is to promote a financially viable and efficient energy sector that provides you with reliable energy services at a reasonable cost. BE INFORMED AND HAVE YOUR SAY You have the right to information regarding this application and to be involved in the process. · You can review the application filed by Enbridge Gas and Union Gas on the OEB's website now. · You can file a letter with your comments, which will be considered during the hearing. · You can become an active participant (called an intervenor). Apply by December 20, 2017 or the hearing will go ahead without you and you will not receive any further notice of the proceeding. · At the end of the process, review the OEB's decision and its reasons on our website. LEARN MORE Our file number for this case is EB-2017-0306 . To learn more about this hearing, find instructions on how to file letters or become an intervenor, or to access any document related to this case, please select the file number EB-2017-0306 from the list on the OEB website: w w w .oeb.ca/notice. You can also phone our Consumer Relations Centre at 1-877-632-2727 with any questions. ORAL VS. WRITTEN HEARINGS Oakville's Fare Share Food Bank is once again calling on residents to dig deep this holiday season and support those struggling in this community. The local charity will hold a Christmas Food Drive from Friday, Dec. 8 until Sunday, Dec. 24. Organizers note this food drive is their last big push to collect non perishable items that will be distributed to clients right through to mid-2018. Nancy Bromberg, president of the food bank board of directors, said this October was the busiest month in the charity's history with 412 family visits. "This means that more than 1,300 people were assisted by the food bank," she said. "Our numbers have increased so the support of the citizens of Oakville is as important as ever." Bromberg noted that while Fare Share's Thanksgiving/Halloween Food Drives were very successful the food bank is still in desperate need of the following items: · Tins of fruit, peas, com, salmon and ham · Powdered laundry detergent · Tea bags · Instant coffee · Pasta & rice side dishes · Baby formula The food bank receives no government funding and as such is completely dependent on the generosity of the people of Oakville. Donations can be dropped at all Oakville fire stations and most Oakville grocery stores or directly at Fare Share Food Bank at 1240 Speers Rd., Unit 6. Nancy Bromberg, president of the board at Oakville's Fare Share Food Bank, at the Speers Road food bank. | Metroland Media file photo Monetary donations are also accepted and allow the food bank to purchase perishable items not donated such as ground beef, ham, chicken, fresh fruit and vegetables. The food bank is run by 54 dedicated volunteers and is a registered charity. Tax receipts are issued immediately. The food bank is open to clients Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. All clients are initially interviewed to ensure they qualify, and regularly thereafter to determine that their circumstances have not changed. For more information visit www. oakvillefoodbank.com. There are two types of OEB hearings - oral and written. Enbridge Gas and Union Gas have asked for a written hearing. The OEB is considering this request. If you think an oral hearing is needed, you can write to the OEB to explain why by December 20, 2017. PRIVACY If you write a letter o f comment, your name and the content o f your letter will be put on the public record and the OEB website. However, your personal telephone number, home address and email address will be removed. If you are a business, all your information will remain public. If you apply to become an intervenor, all information will be public. 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