I have to disagree about gas prices Ross.

My gas provider (not supplier) was a monopoly up until about a year ago. The BC government (cleverly disguised as Terasen, aka: BC Gas) was forced to allow other companies to provide. Fifteen other companies emerged out of the deal, about half now are in dire financial positions or bankrupt. Terasen will still allow you to "cut out the middle-man" and pay monthly. These other providers sell a contract for a three or five year term. Once locked in, your plan remains the same price, usually $10.500/GJ. Riding on speculative pricing is a safe bet, but you pay more for it. Last month, Terasen's rate of natural gas was $7.663/GJ, and midstream @ $.860over that (the price lowered as we took delivery). Levies and distribution add up to a mere 30.42CAD (at par to USD currently) bill per month in the colder weather. mind you, this is the fall season - not yet winter.

There have been gas price increases over the last 15 years (up almost 125% from 1994 - in BC, Canada), but our utilities commission (another branch of BC Government) has to approve the increases, even to keep up with inflation. Glad to see a 8% DECREASE in gas for December. Gotta love it.

Coal is dirty too. Not as dirty as some other combustables (wood, oil). Coal fires have to be cleaned out quite often. As for gas, the nozzles that the gas comes out of hardly ever need replacement.

One bright spot on the horizon is exporting. I dont think the USA exports enough coal. China, India, Japan have all been buying from Canada's not so abundant coal supplies. You guys should "Stack it deep, and Sell it cheap" to them.

almo