Natural gas appears to be a tough sell in the Town of La Ronge.
It was first introduced in the community in late 2009. So far, 119 homes and businesses have signed up — roughly 21% of the number of customers that could currently be hooked up.
SaskEnergy spokesman Dave Burdeniuk notes 460 more potential customers are situated near recently-constructed gas mains — but are still using other sources of heat:
“We’re the new kid in town. Sometimes, in the rest of the province, you will assume that you’ll have natural gas as a fuel. Across Saskatchewan, 93% of homes or businesses have natural gas. What we have to realize with La Ronge and area is natural gas is new — and we know that we’re a new fuel source, and we know that people have questions.”
Burdeniuk is aware that others in La Ronge want the service — but they’re not near any gas mains yet.
He can’t say how long the natural gas expansion will take in La Ronge, but admits it won’t be finished in a couple of years.
However, SaskEnergy expects another 100 potential customers in La Ronge will have the natural gas option by the end of next year.