Independent Natural Gas Distribution Systems

In New Brunswick

• Natural gas is a key component of the overall energy portfolio in New Brunswick.

• Enbridge Gas New Brunswick has been distributing natural gas to residential, commercial,  institutional and industrial customers within the province since 2001, after signing a 20-year general franchise agreement with the Government of New Brunswick in 1999.
• Enbridge Gas New Brunswick distributes only 20% of the natural gas consumed in the province. The other 80% is distributed through other franchises (single end use franchises).
• “Single end user” refers to the companies that have agreements in place with the Government of New Brunswick to access natural gas from the main line running through the province.
• Single end users in New Brunswick were granted the ability to bypass the distribution system prior to Enbridge Gas New Brunswick being granted the general distribution franchise for the province.
• These franchises were only granted to large industrial companies in the Saint John area. 
• These single end users are not contributing directly to the overall development of, or investment in, the natural gas industry in New Brunswick.
• If there were no single end use franchises granted in New Brunswick, the development of Enbridge Gas New Brunswick’s today’s natural gas system would look dramatically different and the deferral account balance would be significantly lower.
• Without Enbridge Gas New Brunswick, and just a single end use franchise system in place, New Brunswickers would not have access to natural gas.
• Enbridge Gas New Brunswick is not aware of any other jurisdiction in North America which has the same natural gas franchise structure as here in New Brunswick.