Municipal and Community Relations at Union Gas Ltd.
WHY and HOW?
Frank Varga and Warren Dickert Union Gas Ltd.
Mission of a Community Plan
• To ensure UGL gets optimum return for invested financial and human resources • To ensure the Community Investment and Relations objectives of UGL and the District are met • To ensure the efforts and investments of the districts are recognized by the communities we serve • To provide a ready listing of resources to be used to assist with community investments • To ensure the district funds are targeted properly and contacts targeted to meet our objectives
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Union Gas Ltd. – Our Strategy
• To enhance operational excellence (transactional efficiency) and advance our branding as a company dedicated to the economic and social health of our customers and the province
– Communicate Union’s role within the province – Continue to reach out to our communities & key stakeholders/ decision makers to support our strategic objectives & enhance our reputation
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Goals and Alignment
• Meet legal requirements and compliance • Reduce costs and build transactional efficiency • Ensure safe and reliable delivery of natural gas • Obtain good media attention and avoid negative attention
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Meet legal requirements and compliance
– Franchise renewals….have an efficient approval process – Local bylaws…mitigate impact and costs to Union Gas
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Reduce costs and build transactional efficiency
– Drive real costs down on municipal related capital and O&M work – Avoided costs and transactional efficiency – Permit matters…reduce time and resources for getting approvals for our work…expedite flow of revenues – Expedite/Mitigate bureaucratic/administrative barriers to our work requirements
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Ensure safe and reliable delivery of natural gas
– Efficient recovery from natural gas outages through local cooperation – Positive media and public/political perception of our operations
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Obtain good media attention and avoid negative attention
– Build positive public/political perception and mitigate potential negative reaction that may lead to PR and legislative/administrative issues
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Simple Components
• A template of objectives for each district • A list of UGL/Spectra support resources that can be used by each district • Planned and historical investments each district makes into their respective communities – (Donations list (local) and guideline spreadsheet) • Key contacts and responsibilities template and frequency plan for the district based on risk criteria and opportunities • Scorecard reporting
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Annual District Objectives
• Obtain all franchise renewals at least 4 months prior to its expiry date • Meet with the Mayor and CAO of communities as per matrix • Meet with senior municipal staff to review planning, construction and operations, once per year and participate on all Utility Coordinating Committees in district • Meet with Chief and Band Administrator of First Nation Communities twice per year where there is gas service • Execute the First Nation’s plan (once approved by the ULG) • Meet with local MPP/MP constituency office (Executive Assistant) once per year • Hold a specific municipal sector event per year - hosted event (dinner, wine tour, meet and greet, tour facilities, golf, etc.) • Hold a minimum of 2 Helping Hands in Action events in each district • Make a presentation once per year to all priority municipalities and county councils. (A presentation at county council reaches all townships within it) • Attend 1 Municipal Conference - ROMA/OGRA, AMO, AMCTO, AMCTO Zone Meetings, OSUM, CRST/ACRO, MMAH, FONOM, NOMA, MEA, OEMC • Have active involvement in each of the priority municipalities – examples: Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, JA, United Way, etc. (as per matrix)
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Support Resources
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Our employees-local leadership and all who we can engage Government ,Aboriginal and Public Relations Departments District Community Budget UGL Government and Aboriginal Affairs Budget Property Taxes $60MM Community Improvement Grant (Helping Hands In Action) United Way Contributions Spectra Energy Foundation Matching Gifts Program Leadership Grant Promotional and print items, special letters Winter Warmth
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Successes…some examples
• Georgian Bluffs…expansion and explosion recovery • Franchise renewals • Traffic Issues • Permits, running lines, construction
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