Police Beat – Former Fort Nelson resident missing in Vernon

Former Fort Nelson resident missing

in Vernon

Update: January 14, 2015: The former resident missing in Vernon as been found safe.

RCMP in Vernon, is requesting the public’s assistance locating missing 30-year-old Brandy Hauser who has been missing since December 15th, 2014.

Police say the family of Brandy Hauser is concerned for her well-being and says she has not been in contact with them over Christmas. The 30-year-old is known to live a high risk lifestyle and frequents the communities of Vernon and Salmon Arm.

A former resident of Fort Nelson, she is described as Caucasian, around 5’8”, weighing 164 pounds. She has brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the Vernon RCMP at 250-545-7171 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Charges laid following incident at FN Secondary School

On 2014-12-15 at approximately 3 pm Northern Rockies RCMP responded to a complaint of a male who attended the Fort Nelson Secondary School brandishing a sword in a threatening manner. The male did not make any direct threats towards the school staff or any students and departed the school when the police were contacted.

The male youth whose name can not be released was located and arrested a short time later in the Fort Nelson downtown area. A search of the area was conducted and a sword was found a short distance away from where the male was located.

Northern Rockies RCMP are recommending charges of possession of a weapon dangerous to public peace, and carrying a concealed weapon. The police believe this to be an isolated incident with no threat to the public. No further reporting to follow on this incident.

Fortis gas rate increase up 24%

SURREY – FortisBC has received regulatory approval for an interim delivery rate increase for Fort Nelson natural gas customers to take effect January 1, 2015.

In a press release FortisBC said the interim delivery rate increase is approximately 24 per cent and only applies to a portion of the total rate that a customer pays. As a percentage of the total rate, the interim rate increase is approximately nine per cent. With this increase included, Fort Nelson residents continue to have some of the lowest natural gas rates in the province.

Residential customers using approximately 140 gigajoules (GJ) of natural gas per year will see an annual increase of $91 to their total bill depending on consumption.

Delivery rates are what FortisBC charges to deliver natural gas service to customers. It enables the utility to recover costs and make investments in infrastructure, ensuring ongoing system integrity and reliability.

For instance earlier this year, FortisBC replaced the main pipeline serving the community of Fort Nelson ensuring safe and reliable service for years to come.

Final delivery rates will be determined in 2015, and will be subject to a comprehensive review of the rate change and the BC Utilities Commission’s decision.

FortisBC is committed to helping customers conserve energy and get the most out of their energy dollar by providing both financial incentives and advice on energy efficient technologies and practices. Those curious about how their energy use may be affecting their natural gas bill can use the FortisBC energy calculator at fortisbc.com/energycalculator.

In November Fortis issued a press release stating that Fort Nelson has been excluded from moving to a common rate; therefore, FortisBC is required to file for separate approval of rates with the BCUC for this service area. As part of this process, FortisBC requested interim delivery rates be put in place for January 1, 2015. FortisBC expected a decision from the BCUC on the request for interim delivery rates in December 2014. There is no change to the commodity rate for Fort Nelson customers, which will remain at $4.259 per GJ.

For other customers in BC, the average residential customer using 90 GJ of natural gas per year, this works out to a decrease of approximately $6 per year or a decrease of one per cent. There is no change to the commodity rate, which will remain at $3.781 per GJ the release states.