Gaz Metro
Encyclopedia
Gaz Métro is an energy company in Quebec
and one of the largest natural gas
distributors in Canada
. It owns energy companies in the United States
as well.
acquired with the 1944 takeover of Montreal Light, Heat & Power
, an electric and gas utility. Following its acquisition, the company converted operations from a manufactured gas
system to one that distributes natural gas.
The company would become Gaz Métropolitain in 1969.
In 1985, the company expanded its service area with the acquisitions of Gaz Inter-Cité Québec (serving eastern Quebec) and Gaz Provincial du Nord (serving the Abitibi-Témiscamingue
region).
The company became a subsidiary of a new company called Noverco, in which the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
and Soquip were major investors. Later investors would include GDF Suez
and Enbridge
.
In 2003, the company shortened its name to its present name, Gaz Métro.
Vermont Gas is the state's only natural gas utility. It has 42,000 customers in Chittenden
and Franklin counties
.
According to management, GMP produces 5000 short tons (4,464.3 LT)-10000 short tons (8,928.5 LT) of CO2 annually, for which they are seeking offsets.
In 2008, GMP got 40% of its power from nuclear sources.
On July 12, 2011, Vermont's largest electric utility, Central Vermont Public Service (CVPS) agreed to be sold to Gaz Métro for $472.4 million. Pending approval by shareholders and regulatory authorities, CVPS operations will be merged with those of GMP making it the largest electric utility in the state with a total of 256,000 customers.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and one of the largest natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
distributors in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It owns energy companies in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as well.
History
The company was founded in 1955 as the Corporation de gaz naturel du Québec ("Natural Gas Corporation of Quebec"). Formal operations began in 1957, when the company acquired the gas operations that Hydro-QuébecHydro-Québec
Hydro-Québec is a government-owned public utility established in 1944 by the Government of Quebec. Based in Montreal, the company is in charge of the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity across Quebec....
acquired with the 1944 takeover of Montreal Light, Heat & Power
Montreal Light, Heat & Power
The Montreal Light, Heat and Power Company was a utility company operating the electric and gas distribution monopoly in the area of Montreal, Quebec, Canada until its nationalization by the government of Quebec in 1944, under a law creating the Quebec Hydroelectric Commission, also known as...
, an electric and gas utility. Following its acquisition, the company converted operations from a manufactured gas
Coal gas
Coal gas is a flammable gaseous fuel made by the destructive distillation of coal containing a variety of calorific gases including hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane and volatile hydrocarbons together with small quantities of non-calorific gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen...
system to one that distributes natural gas.
The company would become Gaz Métropolitain in 1969.
In 1985, the company expanded its service area with the acquisitions of Gaz Inter-Cité Québec (serving eastern Quebec) and Gaz Provincial du Nord (serving the Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Abitibi-Témiscamingue is a region located in western Quebec, Canada, along the border with Ontario. It became part of the province in 1898. It has a land area of 57,674.26 km2 . As of the 2006 census, the population of the region was 143,872 inhabitants.-History:The land was first occupied...
region).
The company became a subsidiary of a new company called Noverco, in which the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec manages public pension plans in the Canadian province of Quebec. It was founded in 1965 by an act of the National Assembly...
and Soquip were major investors. Later investors would include GDF Suez
GDF Suez
GDF Suez S.A. is a French multinational energy company which operates in the fields of electricity generation and distribution, natural gas and renewable energy. The world's largest utility after taking control of Britain's International Power, the company was initially formed by the merger of Gaz...
and Enbridge
Enbridge
Enbridge Inc. is a Calgary, Alberta based company focused on three core businesses: crude oil and liquids pipelines, natural gas transportation and distribution, and green energy. The company has approximately 6,000 employees, mostly in Canada and the United States...
.
In 2003, the company shortened its name to its present name, Gaz Métro.
Quebec operations
In September 2009, the number of employees was 1300. Number of customers in Quebec was some 180,000 customers. Its network in Quebec is nearly 10000 kilometres (6,213.7 mi).Vermont operations
Gaz Métro owns Northern New England Energy Corporation, which in turn owns two utilities serving the US state of Vermont -- Vermont Gas, and Green Mountain Power (GMP).Vermont Gas is the state's only natural gas utility. It has 42,000 customers in Chittenden
Chittenden County, Vermont
Chittenden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 156,545. Its shire town is Burlington. Chittenden is the most populous county in the state, with more than twice as many residents as Vermont's second-most populous county, Rutland.Chittenden County...
and Franklin counties
Franklin County, Vermont
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is part of the Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 47,746. Its shire town is the City of St. Albans.-Geography:...
.
According to management, GMP produces 5000 short tons (4,464.3 LT)-10000 short tons (8,928.5 LT) of CO2 annually, for which they are seeking offsets.
In 2008, GMP got 40% of its power from nuclear sources.
On July 12, 2011, Vermont's largest electric utility, Central Vermont Public Service (CVPS) agreed to be sold to Gaz Métro for $472.4 million. Pending approval by shareholders and regulatory authorities, CVPS operations will be merged with those of GMP making it the largest electric utility in the state with a total of 256,000 customers.