A Gas Co-op is a utility cooperative that is owned and operated by its members. The concept of Gas Co-ops emerged in response to a specific challenge: the less densely populated rural areas of Alberta were not profitable enough for large, private utility companies to service.
The Birth of Gas Co-ops: A Brief History
In 1975, the Alberta government took a pivotal step to address this issue by passing the Rural Gas Act. This landmark legislation provided government grants designed to make it financially viable for rural communities to build their own gas networks. The grants substantially lowered the installation costs, making it possible for these communities to establish gas infrastructures to serve their properties.
A Gas Co-op is a member owned utility that services its members. Gas Co-ops where created because there was not enough profit in the less densely populated rural areas of Alberta for the large private utility companies to serve. In 1975, the Alberta government passed the Rural Gas Act which provided government grants to ensure all rural communities were able to lower the installation cost of creating a gas network to feed their property.