Bangor Gas Company Offers Natural Gas Workshop for local area business

Natural Gas Conference
EMTC -Rangeley Hall
Feb. 27 11:00 AM-2:00 PM

Speakers

Welcome

Natural Gas Marketers

Micro-Turbine

Metering / Regulators

Each speaker will give an estimated 15-20 minute presentation, with an open question and answer panel discussion following the last speaker.

Lunch will be served at 12:00

Bangor Gas Offers Burner Conversion Workshop for Heating Professionals

BANGOR, ME, Nov. 29, 2001 — Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning professionals are invited to attend "Putting Natural Gas to Work," a workshop on burner conversions sponsored by Bangor Gas Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Eastern Maine Technical College, Rangeley Hall. Charlie Aiello of Midco International will discuss and demonstrate proper burner installation and conversion procedures. Lunch is included. There is no cost to attend the workshop.

"There is a lot of misinformation in the community about the cost to convert from heating oil or propane to natural gas and the safety features of natural gas, which currently heats more than 53 percent of households in the United States," said Joe Cote, general manager of Bangor Gas. "This workshop (the third in a series) is intended to answer questions heating professionals may have about natural gas burner conversions."

Most heating oil- and propane-fired equipment used in homes and business can be safely converted using qualified and licensed heating and plumbing contractors. Burners used for conversions are UL/AGA/CSA listed.

Bangor Gas estimates that the cost to convert space and water heating equipment from heating oil to natural gas is approximately $700 to $800, not including oil tank removal or chimney lining. Based on expected annual savings of $400 by converting to natural gas, a homeowner could expect the payback period to be two to three years.

Savings include annual fuel cost, oil tank replacement, electricity usage, reduced annual maintenance and service costs and, most importantly, energy-efficiency savings. Other major considerations to burning natural gas include environmental benefits. Burning natural gas produces less carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide. And, because natural gas is delivered to your home or business by pipelines, there are no leaking storage tanks or delivery trucks adding pollutants to the environment.

Based on average propane costs of $1.20 per gallon (91,600 Btu/gal.) and natural gas at 65 cents per therm (100,000 Btu), the payback period for converting from propane to natural gas is estimated at less than one year. This also takes into account that the cost to convert from propane to natural gas is less than from heating oil to natural gas.

Cote said natural gas is the cleanest, most efficient fossil fuel available for space and water heating. Because it is so clean, maintenance costs are less. Natural gas is safe, reliable and has been the preferred fuel for heating in many homes and businesses across the nation for more than a century. Natural gas supplies are abundant, with 85 percent of the natural gas consumed in the U.S. domestically produced.

To attend the workshop, heating professionals are asked to call Bangor Gas at (207) 941-9595 or send a fax to Jon Kunz, marketing and sales manager at Bangor Gas, at (207) 942-0101.

For more information on natural gas programs and services, visit Bangor Gas' Web site at www.bangorgas.com.

Bangor Gas Co. is part of Sempra Energy Global Enterprises, the umbrella for Sempra Energy's growth businesses. Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services company.

Bangor Gas Begins Gas Service to Brewer Automotive Components

BANGOR, ME, Nov. 19, 2001 — WHAT: Bangor Gas begins natural gas service to first commercial customer in Brewer — Brewer Automotive Components, manufacturers of automotive steering and suspension components. Brewer Automotive's concern for the environment was the deciding factor in switching to natural gas for heating of its offices and manufacturing facility. Bangor Gas estimates that Brewer Automotive will save $7,000 annually on its energy bills by switching from propane to natural gas. Brewer Automotive Components is a joint venture between Somic Ishikawa in Japan and Lemforder Fahrwerktechnik in Germany. Among its customers are Toyota, TRW, Isuzu, Subaru, American Showa and Koyo Steering Systems of U.S.A.

WHEN: Monday, Nov. 19, 2001 10:00am

WHERE: Brewer Automotive Components 6 Baker Blvd. Brewer

WHY: Bangor Gas recently completed the installation of 225,000 feet of pipeline in the cities of Bangor and Brewer. This is in addition to the 187,000 feet of pipeline currently operating in Veazie, Orono and Old Town. Natural gas prices have dropped from the unusually high levels of last year back to more normal historical levels due to abundant supplies and increased storage levels. Switching to natural gas can provide significant energy cost savings to customers. Natural gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel, is safe, efficient and convenient.

WHO: Takahisa Ishikawa, president, Brewer Automotive Components; Jerry Bernier, controller, Brewer Automotive Components; Mark Weisser, facilities engineer, Brewer Automotive Components; Joe Cote, manager, Bangor Gas Co.

Contact: Jon Kunz Bangor Gas (207) 941-9595

Bangor Gas Begins Gas Service to its First Commercial Customer in Bangor — Sunbury Village

BANGOR, ME, Nov. 13, 2001 — WHAT: Bangor Gas begins natural gas service to first commercial customer — Sunbury Village. Residents of the 112-suite retirement complex, which opened this past May, will use natural gas for heating, cooking and to fuel fireplaces. Previously, propane was providing the energy source until natural gas service became available.

Bangor Gas recently completed the installation of 225,000 feet of pipeline in the cities of Bangor and Brewer. This is in addition to the 187,000 feet of pipeline currently operating in Veazie, Orono and Old Town.

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2001 10:00am

WHERE: Sunbury Village 922 Ohio Street Bangor

WHY: Bangor Gas projects that monthly winter gas bills for single-family residents to be less than $135, based on an estimated 203 therms of natural gas (or the equivalent of 150 gallons of No. 2 heating oil). Natural gas is a clean-burning, safe, efficient and competitive-priced fuel, and is used for heating in 53% of the homes across the U.S.

WHO: Brad & Dee Goodwin, managers, Sunbury Village; Joe Cote, general manager, Bangor Gas Co.; Jonathan Kunz, manager of marketing & sales, Bangor Gas Co.

Natural Gas Service Now Available to Residents, Businesses in Bangor and Brewer

BANGOR, ME, Nov. 13, 2001 — Bangor Gas Co. today announced that with the completion of the first phase of its distribution backbone system, natural gas service is now available to a limited number of residents and commercial businesses in the cities of Bangor and Brewer.

Initially, Bangor Gas is targeting residents and businesses where gas is available along the main route in Bangor, including Hammond Street, Bangor's Eastside and the Bangor Mall area along Stillwater Avenue. Also targeted is Brewer's North End, along North Main Street, South Main Street and in the East and West Industrial Parks area.

Bangor Gas recently completed the installation of 225,000 feet of pipeline in Bangor and Brewer as the company continues to build out its distribution system. This is in addition to the 187,000 feet of pipeline currently operating in Veazie, Orono and Old Town. Bangor Gas began serving its first residential, commercial and industrial customers in December 2000.

"Traditionally, area residents and businesses have had limited choice when it comes to addressing their energy needs," said Joe Cote, general manager at Bangor Gas Co. "The introduction of natural gas provides them with a viable energy choice that is clean-burning, safe, reliable and cost-competitive."

"As customers continue to sign up for natural gas service, we will continue to develop our distribution system giving priority to areas with larger loads and customers located where gas lines are currently installed."

Natural gas prices have dropped from the unusually high levels of last year back to more normal historical levels due to abundant supplies and increased storage levels. Switching to natural gas can provide significant budget savings to customers in several ways. For example, based on current prices a typical residential customer using 150 gallons of heating oil in a winter month would save $50 per month by using an equivalent amount of natural gas.

In addition to fuel cost savings, using natural gas provides substantial long-term benefits, such as oil tank replacement savings, reduced annual maintenance and service costs and, most importantly, energy-efficiency savings. These benefits provide additional monthly savings of $30 to $35.

Altogether, switching from heating oil to natural gas could provide the typical residential customer savings of $400 to $500 per year.

Introduced in the United States in 1821, natural gas now accounts for about 25 percent of all energy used nationwide. According to the American Gas Association, natural gas ranks first with more than a 53-percent share of the U.S. home-heating market; meets diverse energy needs, from heating to cooking to clothes drying; and plays an increasing role in the nation's energy future.

"Natural gas is produced right here on our continent, so its supply is not tied to overseas relations," said Cote. "That, coupled with the fact that natural gas is delivered directly to your home or business through underground pipelines, demonstrates what a reliable resource it is."

To sign up for natural gas service, residents and businesses may contact Bangor Gas online at www.bangorgas.com, or call (207) 941-9595.

Bangor Gas Co. is part of Sempra Energy Global Enterprises, the umbrella for Sempra EnergyÕs growth businesses. Based in San Diego, Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), is a Fortune 500 energy services company.

Bangor Gas Begins Natural Gas Service to Residential Customers

BANGOR, ME, Dec. 20, 2000 — Maine state Senator Mary Cathcart and Jim Dearman of Orono today became Bangor Gas' first residential natural gas customers. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony, local officials joined Cathcart and Dearman, along with Bangor Gas in celebrating the startup of natural gas service.

"We are pleased to begin delivering the benefits of safe, reliable, and competitively priced natural gas to our first residential customers today and plan to expand our system to serve approximately 1,000 more homes in the Greater Bangor area by the end of next year," said Rodger Schwecke, general manager of Bangor Gas. "As construction progresses, more and more people will be able to lower their energy costs by replacing higher-priced fuels for heating, hot water, cooking, clothes drying, and other necessities."

On December 7, 2000, Bangor Gas began serving its first industrial customer, Georgia-Pacific Corporation's paper mill in Old Town. Later this month, the company expects to begin natural gas service to its first commercial customers in Veazie, Orono, and Old Town.

In 1998, Bangor Gas received approval from the Maine Public Utilities Commission to provide natural gas service to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in 12 communities in the Greater Bangor area. These communities include Bangor, Bradley, Brewer, Bucksport, Eddington, Hampden, Hermon, Milford, Old Town, Orono, Orrington, and Veazie. Construction of portions of the natural gas distribution system began in the summer of 1998.

Bangor Gas is a unit of Sempra Energy International, which develops, operates, and owns energy projects. Sempra Energy International is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego, with 12,000 employees, revenues of nearly $5.5 billion, and more than 9 million customers in the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, South America, and Asia.

Bangor Gas Begins Natural Gas Service to New Power Plant in Bucksport

BANGOR, ME, Nov. 7, 2000 — Bangor Gas today announced that it has begun natural gas deliveries to Bucksport Energy LLC located at International Paper's (formerly Champion International) paper mill in Bucksport, Maine. Under a 15-year contract with Hydro-Québec Energy Services (US) Inc. (HQUS), a subsidiary of Hydro-Québec, Bangor Gas will deliver 48 million cubic feet per day of natural gas to the new 174-megawatt cogeneration power plant.

The new power plant will produce both electricity and steam for the mill. The plant is a joint effort between International Paper, the mill owner, and HQUS. The plant produces more electrical power than the mill needs, and HQUS will buy the excess energy and sell it in the market.

Construction on a 12-inch and 10-inch lateral pipeline serving the mill began in April 1999 and was completed in July 2000. With the lateral now in place, Bangor Gas will focus on developing a local distribution system to serve residential and commercial customers in the town of Bucksport.

"We're pleased that Hydro-Québec Energy Services (US) Inc. chose Bangor Gas to deliver natural gas to its new Bucksport Energy cogeneration plant – one of the first new gas-fired power plants in the state," said Rodger Schwecke, general manager of Bangor Gas.

"The significance of the contract with HQUS and the lateral goes well beyond serving the needs of a new power plant, however. It paves the way for bringing a viable energy choice that is safe, efficient, reliable and competitively priced to the community of Bucksport," said Schwecke. "The lateral, and subsequent use of natural gas by consumers, promises to deliver broad economic and environmental benefits to the region."

"HQUS is proud to have played a part in the construction of the natural gas power plant and to join with Bangor Gas in offering the people of Maine a new energy source," said Daniel Garant, managing director, wholesale markets and project development, at Hydro-Québec.

In 1998, Bangor Gas received approval from the Maine Public Utilities Commission to provide natural gas service to residential, commercial and industrial customers in 12 communities in the greater Bangor area. These communities include Bangor, Bradley, Brewer, Bucksport, Eddington, Hampden, Herman, Milford, Old Town, Orono, Orrington, and Veazie. Construction of portions of the natural gas distribution system began the summer of 1998 and some of the system is expected to begin operation in fall of 2000.

Hydro-Québec is one of North America's leading electric utilities. It is recognized worldwide for its know-how in electricity generation, transmission and distribution, through its business units and subsidiaries responsible for developing international markets.

Hydro-Québec's subsidiary HQ Energy Services (US) Inc. offers the company an additional source of power supply, enabling it to increase its presence on Northeast US market at competitive prices.

Bangor Gas is a unit of Sempra Energy International, which develops, operates and owns energy projects. Sempra Energy International is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego, with 12,000 employees, revenues of nearly $5.5 billion, and more than 9 million customers in the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico and South America.

Bangor Gas To Hold Neighborhood Meetings On Local Gas Distribution Project