Natural Gas - Disposition - Annual 2013

Introduction

Purpose

This survey collects data on the activities of Canadian natural gas distributors.

Additional information

The purpose of this survey is to obtain information on the supply of, and demand for, energy in Canada. This information serves as an important indicator of Canadian economic performance, and is used by all levels of government in establishing informed policies in the energy area. In the case of public utilities, it is used by governmental agencies to fulfil their regulatory responsibilities. The private sector also uses this information in the corporate decision-making process. Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.

Confidentiality

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects which could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada will use the information from this survey for statistical purposes.

An exception to the general rule of confidentiality under the Statistics Act is the disclosure, at the discretion of the Chief Statistician, of identifiable information relating to public utilities, which includes undertakings supplying petroleum or petroleum products by pipeline, and undertakings supplying, transmitting or distributing gas, electricity or steam. This applies to the dissemination of aggregate survey results at the provincial or territorial level where only one or two public utilities may have reported data or where one dominates the industry in a particular province or territory.

Data-sharing agreements

To reduce respondent burden, Statistics Canada has entered into data sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies and other government organizations, which have agreed to keep the data confidential and use them only for statistical purposes. Statistics Canada will only share data from this survey with those organizations that have demonstrated a requirement to use the data.

Section 11 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with provincial and territorial statistical agencies that meet certain conditions. These agencies must have the legislative authority to collect the same information, on a mandatory basis, and the legislation must provide substantially the same provisions for confidentiality and penalties for disclosure of confidential information as the Statistics Act. Because these agencies have the legal authority to compel businesses to provide the same information, consent is not requested and businesses may not object to the sharing of the data.

For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial and territorial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon.

The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations. Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician and returning it with
the completed questionnaire. Please specify the organizations with which you do not want to share your data.

For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with the statistical agencies of Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut as well as with Natural Resources Canada, Environment Canada, National Energy Board, and the Alberta Department of Energy.

For agreements with provincial and territorial government organizations, the shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Record linkage

To enhance the data from this survey, Statistics Canada may combine it with information from other surveys or from administrative sources.

Security of emails and faxes

Statistics Canada advises you that there could be a risk of disclosure during the transmission of information by facsimile or e-mail. However, upon receipt, Statistics Canada will provide the guaranteed level of protection afforded to all information collected under the authority of the Statistics Act.

Note: There is no risk of disclosure if you are completing a web-based questionnaire online.

Return procedures

This schedule is to be completed and returned to Statistic Canada, 150 Tunney's Pasture Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6. If you require assistance in the completion of the questionnaire, contact the Energy Section by telephoning 1-877-604-7828 or by fax at 1-800-755-5514.

Instructions

1) Transportation service represents direct, non-utility sales, where the distributor acts solely as the transporter.

(2) All energy sold to farms, including any to the farm residence, should be included with agriculture. Note: includes greenhouses and nurseries.

(3) Report only energy sold to industries 486 and 2212 for use in the operation of their systems. Do not report inter-company transactions, since such information has already been reported on the Natural Gas Distribution Monthly Report.

(4) Data for other N.A.I.C.S. categories may include natural gas volumes which may not be used for the primary activity. Data for those N.A.I.C.S. categories may include the use of gas for electrical production as a secondary activity, i.e. co-generation.

Industrial Service

Commercial Service

Residential Service