Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 17/01) - Inuvik Gas Ltd. hooked up its 500th customer, Jeremy Hansen, on Aug. 9.

General manager Lyle Neis said the timing was appropriate, as on Aug. 6, 1999, Inuvik Gas hooked up its first customer -- Sir Alexander Mackenzie school.

Jeremy Hansen

About 275 customers have taken advantage of the company's Inuvik conversion incentive program. The program has been extended one final time, and Neis said about 50 more people could receive grants under the program before it wraps up at the end of the year.

So far this year Inuvik Gas has made more than 70 conversions.

Neis said the company aims to have its prices at least 15 per cent lower than the cost of fuel oil, and that they're succeeding.

From Aug. 1, 2000, to July 31, 2001, natural gas was 24 per cent cheaper than fuel oil. Neis said that for the entire year of 2000 that figure was 25 per cent.

The company has eight permanent staff.

Neis said things are going well this year, and that the company's "dial before you dig" campaign has been well received. He said the aim is to remind people to have the company's underground lines located before they start digging.