The story of Pioneer Gas Co-op is similar to the story of every other gas co-op in Alberta.  The dream of rural gas service began in the 1960s when someone had a desire to bring natural gas to their residences and farms in their rural community. Small groups of southern Alberta farmers began forming co-operatives to build and operate gas distribution systems.  The days of heating with coal and wood (inconvenient) or propane (expensive) were soon to come to an end.  A couple of neighbors gathered together over coffee at a kitchen table to discuss the idea and today, 60 years later, here we are, part of the world’s largest natural gas distribution system with 91% of Albertans using natural gas as their primary heating fuel!  In the early days, meetings were sometimes held on the end gate of a truck in the middle of harvest or at the table in the Chairman’s kitchen. Any spare corner in the Secretary’s house was utilized for an office.  There were many hurdles to cross in order to make it happen.  It took vision, dedication, fierce determination, and down-right hard work to succeed in their mission.  We recognize the efforts of everyone who had a hand in building our local systems.  

 

Rosemary Gas Co-op (incorporated 1970) and Bassano Gas Co-op (incorporated 1973) operated individually until January 1, 2003, when they amalgamated to become Pioneer Gas Co-op Limited.  Gem Gas Co-op was one of the first Gas Co-ops in Alberta (incorporated 1964) and on January 1, 2009, joined Pioneer.  The 3 co-ops’ combined franchise area covers approximately 1448 sq. kilometers (900 square miles), containing 621 risers owned by 436 members. We supply gas to rural areas as far as Duchess to the east, Gem area, and Hussar to the north, Crowfoot Creek to the west, and the Bow River to the south.  We build, operate, and maintain our own system and are on call 24 hours, 7 days per week to respond to emergency calls (gas odor, suspected leaks, line hits).

 

Pioneer Gas Co-op is a member of the Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops Ltd. and along with 52 other member utilities in Alberta, form the largest gas distribution system in the world.  Our gas is purchased from Gas Alberta Inc., which is owned by member Co-ops. This provides us tremendous buying power - supplying and hedging on approximately 25,000,000 gigajoules of gas annually.  Gas distributed by Pioneer Gas Co-op Ltd. is supplied by TC Energy (Formerly NOVA) or ATCO.

 

As per our bylaws, the areas of Bassano, Gem, and Rosemary each have 2 representatives on the Board of Directors as well as 1 representative from the Hutterian Brethren for a total of 7.  Directors are members.  We currently have 4 full-time and 1 part-time staff.