E-35 Letters of Comment dated September 9, 2005 from the ... · Pat & Susan Harrison Pat Schindel...

E-35 Letters of Comment dated September 9, 2005 from the following:

Ann Swann Barbara & Dimitrios Antoniou Bill Potma Brian W. Archer Cynthia van Ginkel Dave Filgate Dave Mills Freya Scheel Hellen Allen Joann McArthur Larry J. Terrick Lorell Gingrich Maggie McKee Matt Rampton Maureen Trotter Michael K.N. Chin Pat & Susan Harrison Pat Schindel Ron Grantham Tony Wilson

E-35

CNSMITH

KMI_Terasen Acquisition

Smith, Constance BCUC:EX

From: Ann Swann [[email protected]]

Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 9:54 AM

To: Commission Secretary BCUC:EX

Subject: Re: proposed sale of Terasen Gas

Page 1 of 1

9/9/2005

Dear Mr. Pellatt, This is to register my alarm over the proposed sale of Terasen Gas to Kinder Morgan. Gas is a public resource and should remain as such. I object strenuously to any proposal to place control of our essential resources into foreign ownership. yours truly Ann Swann

KMI - Terasen AcquisitionExhibit E-35

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From: Barb Antoniou [[email protected]]Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 10:05 PMTo: Commission Secretary BCUC:EXSubject: Terasen Gas

Just a short note from two concerned customers and BC residents. The saleof Terasen Gas should not be allowed now or ever to any foreign concern .

Barbara and Dimitrios Antoniou



From: jwpotma [[email protected]]

Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 11:24 PM


Cc: Stan Potma; [email protected]; karl & julia; Kevin & Sue Potma; Dirk Jol; Doug deBoer; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Tim Greenwood; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Henrietta Hamming; [email protected]; [email protected]; Mundy Park Christian Fellowship

Subject: Opposition to Terasen sale

Page 1 of 1

9/11/2005

Dear secretary of the BC Utilities Commission,I want to express my opposition to the proposed purchase of Terasen (our BC gas company) by Kinder Morgan, a U.S. company. This company is mainly interested in having the pipe lines from our Canadian gas fields, so that they can control the flow of natural gas to their markets. Terasen, or formerly BC Gas was established to provide natural gas to the homes and businesses within BC and to export our surplus to other markets. I believe that the new owners will not care whether we have a surplus, but will take what they can get, once they own the pipelines. He did the same with the (not so famous) energy company. He took the pipelines and then distanced himself from the remaining hollow shell of a bankrupt company. Already today we heard the news that Terasen is asking for approval of a major increase in our gas prices. It is not my custom to send copies to many people, but this is a serious matter and I ask my friends and relatives to voice their opposition. Please let all of us know when and where the public hearings will be held so that we can all voice our opposition. A concerned citizen, Bill Potma [email protected]



From: Archer, Brian [[email protected]]



Subject: terasen rate increase

Page 1 of 1terasen rate increase

9/9/2005

I take exception to the press release by TERASENS vice president of marketing giving the weak excuse that Katrina is one of the major reasons for their rate increase along with the supposed use of natural gas as an alternate fuel to various manufacturing changing from oil. In practically the same breath, they are trying to sell the Company to KINDER –MORGAN for a premium price. In the first instance, unless they have no awareness of the gas they sold last year, they should at least have hedged their purchases for the previous years consumption plus and anticipated growth which they I am sure they factor in .The business of gas distribution is after all what they do. Unless they are completely incompetent, it is my contention that they see an opportunity to take advantage of a short term spike in energy to line the coffers of the company. In the second instance, KINDER-MORGAN has made a huge offer for this Company, and to my way of thinking, just to be able to service the debt on this takeover will probably require another huge rate increase. TERASEN has already received an increase from BC UTILITIES COMMISSION that takes effect in October, and they deserve no other increases unless they can demonstrate to the commissions satisfaction that the rates they asked for and received , cannot cover current expenditures, and are due to unforeseen events and not controllable ones . 6.9 Billion dollars is a ton of money, and it is an expenditure that has to be considered and not based on todays interest rates, but those in the future. I can almost see the application to raise rates in a future application : DUE TO UNFORSEEN RISES IN INTEREST RATES , TERASEN GAS (see kinder-morgan) REQUIRES A SMALL INCREASE IN THEIR RATES TO RECOVER ONLY THEIR COSTS< etc. etc. . We have seen it before and we see it over and over. We the consumer have no say in how these Companies operate, but we get to pick up the tab for all the shortcomings !!!

Sincerely,

Brian W Archer

33089 Myrtle Ave

Mission, BC V2V 4R6


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From: [email protected]: Friday, September 09, 2005 12:53 PMTo: Commission Secretary BCUC:EX; [email protected]: Terasen Should Not Be Foreign Owned

Dear BCUC:

I am writing to express my deep concern over allowing Terasen to beforeign-owned and permitted to have company headquarters outside of BC.Terasen, once called BC Gas, is a critical company in our province. Ibelieve it should have deep local roots and not report to shareholders inTexas. The environmental record of Kinder Morgan is also of greatimportance in this discussion. It is critical that we maintain a firm graspon utilities operating in our province to ensure proper service andadherence to our safety and environmental regulations.

Sincerely,Cynthia van Ginkel813 Alexander BayPort Moody, BC V3H 3R7

Cynthia van Ginkel, CouncillorPort Moody, City of the ArtsP.O. Box 36, 100 Newport Drive, Port Moody, BC V3H 3E1Tel 604-469-4516 Fax 604-469-4664 [email protected]


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From: Dave Filgate [[email protected]]Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 8:16 AMTo: Commission Secretary BCUC:EXSubject: natural gas rate increases

Hello,

I am writing to voice my concerns about the proposed Teresan rates increasesslated for October 1st.

I find it totally disgusting that a company supplying natural gas to BritishColumbia would use the excuse of a natural disaster half a continent awayto increase our rates.

This natural gas is in Canadian ground, British Columbian ground, and theirdistribution system is in British Columbia.

The way it appears to me, is that they see an opportunity to make a large profit on the back of peoples misery, and have decide to get as much moneyas they can from us....

Shame on them proposing a gas increase right before the cold season hits whenour area and ordinary people need to have heat.

This sounds an awful lot like price gouging and profitering and instead ofeven thinking about allowing them to increase their rates, you should be considering investigating them to see if there is any criminal intent intheir proposal.It certainly seems like a crime to me.

I hope that this doesn't appear to be a rant, as I am seriously concernedabout their motives.Thank youDave Filgate



From: Dave Mills [[email protected]]



Subject: Gas Pipelines in British Columbai

Page 1 of 1

9/11/2005

I am writing to you to express my opposition over the sale of a Canadian natural gas utility company known as Terasen Gas. I am deeply concerned over the sale to an American company with a nothing short of atrocious environmental record. Vital Canadian utilities are in the Provincial and Canadian interest. These utilities are in place, through Provincial legislation. This legislation should be amended to prevent them from being sold to foreign controlled corporations. My name is David Mills I live in Vancouver My partner and I are Terasen Gas customers.



From: Freya Scheel [[email protected]]



Subject: KMI-Terasen Acquisition

Page 1 of 1

9/9/2005

To Whom it May Concern: I strongly oppose this acquisition as I feel very uncomfortable with an American company having and form of control of our natural resource. The history of Americans honoring previous trade agreements (notably our soft wood issue) is very questionable and I am not sure they would honor any other agreements in place with other such issues. British Columbia needs to control her own resources solely. Freya Scheel 1534 Eagle Rock Road Armstrong, B.C. V0E 1B7



From: [email protected]



Subject: sale of Terasen Gas

Page 1 of 1

9/11/2005

I am disgusted that this sale is even being considered. What are the shareholders thinking of????? I know that all they see are the dollar signs. We are slowly selling all of our corporations and assets to Foreign Countries. If people think that we can still control some of the assets they had better wake up and smell the coffee. Once we loose control that is it. Should any problems arise once this sale has been done we will be the last ones to have anything done to resolve the problem. The Americans will see that we will come last as we have a reputation of being laid back. Do people not realize that an increase is in the offing once the sale is completed. What about the Seniors and people on fixed incomes going to do if and when they increase the rates. Who is going to help them out? Our Government? THAT IS A BIG JOKE. The Americans are used to bullying tactics and I feel that there will be more to come from the sale of Terasen Gas regarding the pipeline into the States. Transportation of the gas into the states via a pipeline will probably result in some sort of hokey deal with them coming out on top. We are suppose to be a Country known as Canada but with all our resources etc. being sold off what will we be known as.? What are we leaving our children? NOTHING that will be Canadian owned. What a shame...... I am tired of all the Politicians saying what a good deal they have made with Foreign Investments. They have sold our Country down the drain. Terasen Gas has asked for an increase starting Oct 1. Why oh why does everyone feel that they are justified in claiming that the increases are due to Katrina hurricane. Shareholders are just drooling about now for their yearly or whatever dividend that they are about to receive. MERRY CHRISTMAS to them and humbug. Should this sale go through there will be repercussions abound. I feel that the sale has not been thoroughly thought out and that the all mighty greed for a profit rules. Hellen Allen British Columbia



From: Joann McArthur [[email protected]]



Subject: Sale - BC GAS

Page 1 of 1

9/11/2005

I am greatly oppossed to BC Gas Terasen being sold off to Kinder Morgan. When will this province learn not to give away our resources. Do you believe we can survive without profit? How about the effect of global warming? Kinder Morgan has a poor environmental record. Open your eyes folks. Tomorrow will be too late. I am all for us sharing in what we have to help out our neighbours. However, too what cost do our CEO's do this? Do you realize how many people, in the general public, are saying "oh well, we might just as well be called the USA. They own most of us anyway." How sad is that. What happened to our Nationalism? What about our province being of diverse cultures, having natural resources in abundance and pride in not being over populated? Have you officials not seen enough of what privitization has done for our province already? Please, again I ask you to open your eyes before it is far too late. If not for yourselves, then please for your childrens' children. Sincerely and in support of keeping BC in BC, I remain Joann McArthur



From: Sand Dollar Industries Ltd [[email protected]]



Subject: amended letter - Terasen Kinder Morgan

Page 1 of 1

9/9/2005

Dear Sir/Madam: I just sent my letter to you on our personal letterhead -Larry & Shirley Terrick. However the wrong copy was transmitted by mistake. Please ignore the first e-mail and replace with the attached. Thank you. Sincerley, Larry Terrick. [email protected].


Larry J. Terrick & Shirley K. Terrick

968 Monashee Place, Kelowna, B.C. Canada. Postal Code V1V 1J5

Telephone: [250] 762-8808 Fax: [250] 762-8847 September 9, 2005. British Columbia Utilities Commission, Sixth Floor, 900 Howe Street, Box 250, Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2N3

NOTE: This letter sent via e-mail this date.

REFERENCE: In the matter of Kinder Morgan/Terasen Gas proposed takeover. H.R. Hobbs, Chair: Sir: Please accept this late letter in the above merger proposal. I was very ill and could not attend to this matter and your September 6th deadline until now. After speaking with your switchboard operator early this afternoon, she advised that I could still send an e-mail response that will indeed be honored with other correspondence relating to this matter. I will be brief. I write as a concerned consumer in the Kelowna area and also as an investor in Terasen. Early the morning of the Kelowna ‘workshop’ I found a small article in our local press announcing an open house being held. I advise that I rushed to attend this "OPEN HOUSE" [‘dog and pony show’] as ordered by the BCUC. It was one of a number that they were to hold from what I understood. To be frank, this was just another cheap and skillfully mastered scheme just to say that investors and consumers had their chance to "examine" [sic] what this was all about. Like the politicians of old who used to buy their votes with booze, these guys used coffee and donuts, neither of which I touch, nor were they offered to me. No representative from the BCUC was there so that I could get both sides of the spin on this merger, just reps from Terasen and Kinder/Morgan. So this was a one sided presentation to say the least. Of course the hand out materials and display boards spoke so highly and positive of this merger and it’s benefits. What else would one expect? There was no annual reports for


Kinder-Morgan to examine. It was done very skillfully and calmly and in so reassuring a way it was akin to approving giving your daughter to the local pimp so to speak. After asking many questions, I came to the conclusion that they were trying to convince me that I was well protected as a consumer by the BCUC. My cost of services would not go up as a consumer however the value of my new shares would increase far quicker with Kinder-Morgan than with Terasen because they had "so much more power to lobby and better access to cheaper capital to expand” and so on. If they are such good people at the lobbying game, then look out BCUC, these Kinder guys will walk all over you, and thus - ourselves in the long run! It was also stated that “they do not make a cent on the gas”, that they are only the delivery vehicle. How then when I awoke this morning [Sept 9] I hear the radio talk show speaking about Terasen requesting a thirteen per cent [13%] rate increase. Another of the handouts was one very cleaver report about how the Kinder-Morgan group pays their top brass so very little, no bonuses, stock options and so on; and the president only receives a dollar per year [ yes, only $1.00 per year ]. Please explain this. If the top engineers and the brass at Morgan get such a very conservative income they must be very dedicated to their work and not have a greedy bone in their bodies! Why are these people staying with Kinder-Morgan when there is such a high demand for qualified gas and oil specialists in their field of expertise? Why are these employees not moving on to much better paying positions, enticed by other oil and gas pipeline companies? Something doesn't ring true here! In the past, I was a proud owner of Westcoast Energy and I took major bath when we got bought out by Duke Energy. In the end I had to sell at a big loss. So much for a quality Canadian Blue Chip stock. The Kinder-Morgan people will decide where Terasen goes, not we little minions. History repeats itself and if this merger goes through, it will do so again. Therefore, last week I decided to sell all my holdings of Terasen because I do not trust what little I did see and what was said, and what will actually be done in the end. I also still own a large position in Trans Canada. I rode that through a major downturn as a result of having to cut the dividends severely. Remember that Trans Canada hurt a lot of people, mostly elderly folks who had their dividends [income to them] cut severely at the expense of greed by those in charge at the time. Will it be any different with Kinder-Morgan I ask? I don't think so! In the stock market news was this report “Standard & Poor's Ratings Services put Kinder-Morgan on CreditWatch with negative implications, citing the increased leverage needed to do the deal, while Moody's Service said it may cut Terasen's debt ratings. These are both negatives – alarm bells that should not be overlooked!


And finally, I have investment ownership in quality lumber companies that are not at the present time providing any dividend income nor opportunity to sell at even a break even price. This situation is the result of the ongoing and seemingly never-ending softwood lumber dispute. With the American attitude towards continuing to rape Canada and it’s citizens of our natural resources at their pleasure and to ignore law unless it is to their advantage, I have to speak for what we have left before it is all gone. When the Americans live up to their end of the NAFTA agreement as it relates to the outright theft of billions of our dollars in duties and tariffs in the softwood lumber dispute; I may come about in my way of thinking. Until that time, I respectfully request that this merger application be totally rejected on it’s many grounds. LJT/dm Yours truly, cc: file word@72/74

Larry Terrick

Larry J. Terrick.



From: lorell [[email protected]]



Subject: Terasen Gas

Page 1 of 1

9/9/2005

Dear BCUC, Diane Thorne's office gave me your e-mail. I want to express my opposition to the sale of Terasen Gas to Americans. It seems like Canada and the province of BC is up for bid. I realize we have debts but selling everything off is not the answer. I would also like to ask you to lobby the federal gov't to withdraw Canada from NAFTA. Canada should return to WHO/GATT. We were treated fairly by the rest of the world and we have been given the shaft time and time again by the Americans with NAFTA. Time to get out. Lorell Gingrich



From: Maggie McKee [[email protected]]



Subject: proposed sale of Terasen

Page 1 of 1

9/9/2005

To whom it may concern, As a British Columbian, I strongly protest any consideration of the sale of Terasen Gas to Kinder Morgan, Inc. or any company that is not Canadian. The ramifications of such a sale will impact all British Columbians negatively, in my opinion. Please keep our natural gas OUR natural gas. Thank you, Maggie McKee

Let's create wellness globally!!

Maggie McKee President

Balanced Health Strategies #416 - 518 Moberly Rd Vancouver BC V5Z 4G3

[email protected] tel:

mobile: 604-872-3220 604-230-4072

Add me to your address book... Want a signature like this?



From: Charles and Judy Smith [[email protected]]



Subject: Objection Registration

Page 1 of 1

9/11/2005

Dear Sir or Madam. I want to register my rejection of the purchase of Terasen Gas by a US company, Kinder Morgan. Please register my opposition and have it documented for the future hearing. Thank You! Matt Rampton 45473 Sinninger Place, Chilliwack BC V2R 3W7 Please mail me a confirmation, I don't have my own email, Thanks



From: Maureen Trotter [[email protected]]


To: [email protected]

Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; Commission Secretary BCUC:EX; [email protected]; Simpson.MLA, Bob LASS:EX; Coleman, Rich FOR:EX; OfficeofthePremier, Office PREM:EX

Subject: letter to the editor about Terasen Gas

Page 1 of 2

9/11/2005

1816 Abbey Road Quesnel, BC V2J 6C9 September 9, 2005 Quesnel Cariboo Observer 188 Carson Ave Quesnel, BC Re: the sale of Terasen Gas to US Kinder Morgan Dear Editor; I am writing to protest the sale of Terasen Gas to the US company Kinder Morgan. The sale must be approved by the BC Utilities Commission which will hold hearings on the sale and so it is still possible to stop this. Terasen Gas used to be BC Gas, a Crown corporation, owned by the people of the province who benefited from its sale of gas to its 875,000 customers in BC. Then it was sold to a private company but there were restrictions on the number of directors who could live outside of the province. The headquarters had to be in BC and the percentage of shares that could be owned by foreigners was limited to 20%. The number of shares that could be owned by one entity was also limited to 10%. This year the Campbell government removed those restrictions and any non-Canadian can acquire a controlling interest in Terasen, BC's 7th largest corporation in 2004, with assets of nearly $6.9 billion, including pipelines in both BC and Alberta and about 2,000 employees. With this sale to Kinder Morgan, profits will go to Texas rather than stay in BC. Already the company is applying to increase our gas prices. This also needs approval from the BC Utility Commission. But, the Commission has no ability to force the company to upgrade its’ pipelines and the Kinder Morgan company has a poor safety and environmental record. In one deadly incident five people were killed last November in Walnut Creek, California, after an excavator ruptured a high-pressure petroleum line. Kinder Morgan was charged with ‘serious wilful’ negligence. Another blemish on Kinder Morgan¹s environmental record is a 2004 70,000-gallon diesel spill into a Northern California marsh from an old, corroded pipeline. According to Terasen, many of their BC pipelines are approaching 50 years of age, and some, particularly under Vancouver, are as old as 70 years. Kinder Morgan is committed to getting gas to the US - will it cut corners here in Canada and compromise safety?


The purchase is seen by the US govt as part of its national security strategy - ensuring that pipelines take Canadian gas to the US markets. When we signed NAFTA we signed away our energy security. We now sell 58% of our natural gas to the US and WE MUST SELL no less than this percentage even when our gas reserves start falling and we face a shortage. The more pipelines built to the US by Kinder Morgan, the faster we sell our energy security and the bigger the percentage we have to sell in the future. We are increasing our gas sales to a country that refuses to commit to conservation, refuses to sign the Kyoto accord, denies there is any such thing as global warming and believes is has a right to burn as much oil and gas as it can its hands on. Part of Canada¹s commitment to fight global warming should be to make it more difficult - not easier- for the US to pollute. If we want to protest the US treatment of our softwood lumber industry, this is a way to strike back where it hurts. We have shut off our gas fireplace, but I call on our politicians to take a stand that protects all of us. Maureen Trotter c. Vancouver Sun Victoria Times-Colonist BC Utility Commission Investment Review Division – Industry Canada Bob Simpson, MLA, Cariboo North Rich Coleman, BC Minister of Forests Premier Gordon Campbell

Page 2 of 2

9/11/2005



From: Michael K. N. Chin [[email protected]]



Subject: Re Sale of Terasen

Page 1 of 1

9/11/2005

Dear Sir/madam: I feel very sad that we should be contmep[lating selling our natural resources to a foreign country. Should the United States and Canada ever be short of gas, don't you think KMI is going to look after their interest first before ours?? Ipray you will do your best to protect our natural resources and also our jobs. Michael Chin



From: Pat Harrison [[email protected]]



Subject: Terasen Gas

Page 1 of 1

9/11/2005

Dear BC Utilities Commissioner: Do not permit the sale of ‘our’ gas company (Terasen Gas) to Kinder Morgan Group of Texas. As long as the company remains a BC and Canadian Company, we have a say about how our resources are utilized. Why would we want to sell our resource to a Texas Company where we would have no control over how our resource is distributed and where they can raise the price of gas to pay for the purchase of this company. Sincerely, Pat and Susan Harrison 16520 40th Avenue Surrey, BC, V3S 0L2 [email protected]



From: Pat Schindel [[email protected]]



Subject: Sale of Terasen

Page 1 of 1

9/9/2005

I wish to vehemently protest the sale of Terasen Inc. to an American company. The Gordon Campbell government should be ashamed to allow Canadian natural resources to be under foreign control.

Pat Schindel, Assistant to the Director Co-operative Education Simon Fraser University Phone: 604-291-4996 Fax: 604-291-5496 e-mail: [email protected] SFU Co‐op ~ Celebrating 30 Years ~ 1975‐2005



From: Ron Grantham [[email protected]]


To: Commission Secretary BCUC:EX; [email protected]

Subject: Sale of Terasen to Kinder Morgan

Page 1 of 1

9/9/2005

Dear Sirs / Madams; Let me add my voice to those protesting the sale of Terasen Gas to Texas-based Kinder Morgan. I find it abhorrent that a British Columbia resource and its connecting commercial and residential distribution systems would be controlled by a foreign nation. Please do not let this sale happen! Ron Grantham Port Moody, BC 604-469-1159


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From: TONY WILSON [[email protected]]Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 1:05 PMTo: Commission Secretary BCUC:EXSubject: Teresen Gas Proposed Sale

Dear Sir or Madam

Please DO NOT allow the sale or take over of the Teresen Gas company in the upcoming hearing to Kinder Morgan. I feel very strongly that such a sale to a foreign company would have extremely bad repercussions on the future needs of British Columbia and the people who live here.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Tony Wilson


E-35 Letters of Comment dated September 9, 2005 from the ... · Pat & Susan Harrison Pat Schindel...

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Transcript of E-35 Letters of Comment dated September 9, 2005 from the ... · Pat & Susan Harrison Pat Schindel...