News Release

For Immediate Release
January 16, 2004

First Natural Gas Customers Connected in Nova Scotia

Halifax, NS - For the first time ever, the people of Nova Scotia are enjoying the benefits of natural gas distribution service. Heritage Gas today announced it has connected natural gas service to its first residential and commercial customers in the province.

Natural gas is now flowing to residential customers in Crichton Park and commercial customers in the Burnside Industrial Park in Dartmouth. In its first six years of development, Heritage Gas plans to bring natural gas access to over 20,000 homeowners and businesses in Nova Scotia.

“Heritage Gas made a promise that Nova Scotians would be enjoying natural gas service by the end of 2003 and we fulfilled that promise,” said Ron Clark, Chief Executive Officer, Heritage Gas. “We’re proud to be the first company to bring natural gas service to the people of Nova Scotia and share more than a half-century of experience in the Canadian natural gas industry.”

Heritage Gas is a consortium made up of three Canadian companies – SaskEnergy Inc., AltaGas Services Inc. and Nova Scotia-based Scotia Investments Limited.

“People in Nova Scotia finally have a new energy choice – the number one fuel of choice for more than 15 million Canadians,” said Ray Ritcey, President, Heritage Gas. “Natural gas is competitive, it’s clean-burning and convenient, safe, and eliminates the need for filling oil tanks for homes or businesses. It will over time become the number one choice for Nova Scotians too.”

Ritcey said Heritage Gas is finalizing an attractive rebate program that will make it even easier for homeowners and businesses to enjoy natural gas. Heritage Gas will outline the program in the coming months.

SaskEnergy and AltaGas Inc. currently have nearly 400,000 gas distribution customers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories.

For more information, please contact:

Kathy Peter
Heritage Gas
Phone: (902) 466-2003