VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The National Energy Board is launching an investigation of the fire and blast at the Enbrige gas line near Prince George this week.
Until it wraps up, Premier John Horgan is asking people to turn the heat down.
RELATED: 700,000 FortisBC customers could lose gas service, following pipeline explosion
“Investigators are on the scene, RCMP, National Energy Board, as well as the Oil and Gas Commission. We’ll await to hear what the cause of this horrific accident was,” he said. “There’s concerns about supply, so I would appeal to people who are watching at home, that they restrict the amount of gas they’re using if at all possible until Fortis can be assured that supply will be coming on stream.”
FortisBC is working on ways to maintain the gas flow, including activating LNG plants at Tilbury and south of Nanaimo, and increasing supply from the Trans Canada line from Alberta.
RELATED: Jump at the pump expected as Washington State refineries cut output
As many as 700,000 FortisBC customers could lose their natural gas supply because of the shortage, and gas prices are expected to rise.
WATCH: Enbridge gas pipeline ruptures north of Prince George, BC
FortisBC has had to cut off the flow of natural gas while they assess the damaged line. About 85 per cent of gas used in B.C. uses that pipeline.
The explosion caused multiple homes to be evacuated in the area, but they’ve seen been allowed to return home.
The post Horgan asks public to conserve gas, as province, NEB launch investigation into Enbridge explosion appeared first on NEWS 1130.