Penticton city facilities cooling down to deal with natural gas shortage

PENTICTON – Temperatures are cooling off outside with the approach of winter, but a natural gas shortage is cooling things off inside City of Penticton facilities as well.

The city announced today, Nov. 6, in a media release plans to reduce natural gas usage as a result of a provincial shortage caused by the recent pipeline explosion near Prince George.

Effective immediately, city facilities heated by natural gas will have their thermostats set 1.5 degrees lower than usual, the city says. This includes the South Okanagan Events Centre, the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, the Community Centre, Penticton RCMP detachment, city yards and Fire Hall number one.

Infrared heaters in spectator stands will be turned off in all city arenas and hot water tank temperatures will be lowered. Ice floods will also be minimized.

Pool temperatures will also be reduced by around one degree.

The events centre will have its hot water cooled by two degrees and the city’s Zambonis will have five degrees chopped from their water temperatures.

“These measures support similar steps taken in other B.C. communities to lessen the demand on natural gas consumption as we head into the high demand winter season,” recreation business supervisor Kelsey Johnson said in the media release. “They will remain in place for the duration of the shortage.”

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