Gas planning and engagement

Engagement is vital to the Long-Term Gas Resource Plan (LTGRP) process. Indigenous communities and interested parties provide valuable input into the LTGRP and our transition to a lower-carbon energy future and to distributing renewable and low-carbon gas¹.

Indigenous communities and interested parties engagement

In 2026, we’ll be submitting our next LTGRP for review to the British Columbia Utilities Commission. This plan will include our long-term vision for securing safe, reliable and cost-effective gas resources to meet our customers’ energy needs. We’re developing the plan in consultation with Indigenous communities and interested parties on long-range planning issues. Engagement workshops with local and Indigenous communities throughout B.C. will offer opportunities for feedback on resource planning. The first session with the interested parties part of the LTGRP is scheduled for December 4, 2024.

Long-term resource planning and related stakeholder engagement is an ongoing process. Email us at [email protected] for information about future opportunities.

Resource Planning Advisory Group

The Resource Planning Advisory Group (RPAG) is a technical working group that engages members from government, customer associations, environmental organizations, and others in developing the LTGRP. This group of energy industry experts, government and other interested parties regularly provides input on important energy issues during long-term resource planning.

We held an introductory event in July 2024 that included discussion of our Long-Term Electric Resource Plan, which is being developed at the same time as the LTGRP. There will be additional RPAG sessions. The LTGRP has an RPAG session scheduled on November 19, 2024.

Terms of Reference

The current Terms of Reference for the gas advisory group governs the composition of and interactions between the advisory membership (including FortisBC). These Terms are periodically updated to enhance the group’s interactions and to reflect updates in the planning environment.

Questions or comments about the RPAG? Email us at [email protected].

¹FortisBC uses the term renewable and low-carbon gas to refer collectively to the low-carbon gases or fuels that the utility can acquire under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Clean Energy) Regulation, which are: Renewable Natural Gas (also called RNG or biomethane), hydrogen, synthesis gas (from wood waste) and lignin. FortisBC’s renewable and low-carbon gas portfolio currently includes only Renewable Natural Gas. Other gases and fuels may be added to the program over time. Depending on their source, all of these gases have differing levels of lifecycle carbon intensity. However, all of these gases are low carbon when compared to the lifecycle carbon intensity of conventional natural gas. The current burner tip emission factor of RNG is 0.27 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule of energy (gCO₂e/MJ) and the current renewable and low-carbon gas portfolio lifecycle emissions for stationary combustion are -22 gCO₂e/MJ. This is below B.C.’s low carbon threshold for lifecycle carbon intensity of 30.8 gCO₂e/MJ as set out in the 2024 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Regulation amendments.