Project-based Communications SaskEnergy’s distribution, transmission and storage projects can impact the communities in which they are occurring. In addition to fully complying with all legal and regulatory considerations, SaskEnergy will typically hold consultations with affected stakeholders in areas where projects are of greater scope or longer duration. Such communications initiatives include public open houses and meetings with local municipal councils, First Nations representatives and other stakeholders. These initiatives allow company officials to explain the environmental impacts of proposed activities, including proposed mitigation plans. They also provide opportunities to enhance general understanding of the projects economic benefits and of natural gas as a heating source. Because Saskatchewan has approximately 75 First Nations Bands and 11 Métis Regions, a dedicated Aboriginal Relations group exists to better foster consultation, dialogue and relations. Regulatory Communications SaskEnergy is required to file any applications for delivery and commodity rate changes with the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel (SRRP), an advisory Panel that provides formal recommendations to the Provincial Cabinet. The applications are available to the public. Typically, the SRRP will ask for additional information to assist in its review, and a public interaction component is provided through public meetings. SaskEnergy filed a commodity rate increase application in May of 2014, seeking a $1.02 per GJ increase. After review, the application was recommended to, and approved by Cabinet, effective July 1, 2014. In August of 2013, SaskEnergy’s application for a two-year delivery service rate increase was approved, with the rate increasing on September 1, 2013 and again on September 1, 2014. SaskEnergy continued to have the lowest residential delivery rate in Canada in 2014. TransGas’ proposed rate changes are discussed through the TransGas Customer Dialogue, a proxy with representatives from the producer, industrial end-user and gas marketer communities. After rate changes are discussed through Dialogue, they are provided to the Provincial Cabinet for approval. TransGas’ latest rate change was effective January 1, 2014, with an average rate increase of 3.5 per cent.
Employee Communications SaskEnergy regularly communicates with its workforce of more than 1,000 employees to ensure prompt and accurate delivery of corporate information. A primary method of communication is the InfoFlash (a corporate memo containing relevant, business-related information) that is delivered via e-mail to all employees within the Corporation. In addition, SaskEnergy also employs a corporate Intranet site (innergy). This communication medium allows employees to access information related to the Corporation, stay informed on upcoming events and initiatives and link to internal departmental sites for specific department-related information. To ensure the accuracy and quality of information provided, innergy offers a two-way communication medium for employees to submit feedback regarding information on the website. SaskEnergy produces a bi-annual newsletter called Our Energy. Issues are delivered to all employees, as well as to superannuates, upon request. The Our Energy newsletter features articles related to corporate and employee initiatives that are taking place throughout the Province. SaskEnergy also produces corporate videos that serve as informative, educational tools to keep employees up-to-date on major projects that are taking place within the Corporation. The Corporation also maintains an “Open Line to the President”, a forum whereby employees are able to submit questions or comments for Executive response. Posted responses are available for all employees to view. In addition to the mediums mentioned above, SaskEnergy supports the use of meetings, presentations and face-to-face communication to deliver important messages to employees, such as safety messages, business and strategic plan information and employee survey results.
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2014 Annual Report SaskEnergy
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