Financial Report - Veresen Inc.
Financial Report - Veresen Inc.
Financial Report - Veresen Inc.
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We and our businesses employ various inspection and monitoring methods to manage the integrity of our facilities and to minimize<br />
system disruptions. Further, we and our businesses maintain safety policies, disaster recovery procedures and insurance coverage<br />
at industry acceptable levels in the case of an incident. However, there can be no assurance that these measures will be effective in<br />
preventing events that adversely impact the operations of our businesses or that insurance proceeds will be adequate to cover lost<br />
earnings and cash flows.<br />
Competition<br />
All of our businesses participate in competitive markets and compete with other companies. Substantially all of our businesses have<br />
entered into long-term contractual agreements with varying maturities that serve to reduce the potential impact of this competition.<br />
However, we can give no assurances that such agreements will remain in effect or will be replaced with agreements on substantially<br />
the same terms. As a result, our future earnings and cash flows are exposed to competitive market forces, particularly at the time<br />
any of our existing contracts mature.<br />
We also compete with other businesses for growth and business opportunities, which could impact our ability to grow through acquisitions.<br />
Environmental, Health and Safety<br />
Our businesses are subject to extensive federal, provincial, state, and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations<br />
typical for the industries and jurisdictions within which they operate, including requirements for compliance obligations pertaining to<br />
discharges to air, land and water. Our facilities could experience environmental, health and safety incidents including spills, emission<br />
exceedences, or other unplanned events that could result in:<br />
• fines or penalties;<br />
• operational interruptions;<br />
• physical injury to our employees, contractors, or general public;<br />
• environmental contamination clean-up costs; and<br />
• additional costs being incurred to achieve compliance.<br />
We are also exposed to potential changes in future laws and regulations, such as those related to nitrous oxides and greenhouse gas<br />
emissions, which could result in more stringent and costly compliance requirements. The Global Warming Act (AB 32) requires gas-fired<br />
electricity generation facilities located in California to mitigate 100 percent of their greenhouse gas emissions. Beginning in January<br />
2013, our Ripon and San Gabriel facilities will be required to comply with AB 32. We are actively pursuing mitigation strategies aimed<br />
at reducing our compliance costs related to greenhouse gas emission reductions, including participating in the November 2012 and<br />
February 2013 auctions for greenhouse gas allowances. We were successful in securing allowances that will enable us to meet our first<br />
and second quarter 2013 greenhouse gas obligations. As the greenhouse gas cap and trade program and the implementation of AB 32<br />
remain in early stages, the cost implications associated with greenhouse gas mitigation over the life of the Ripon and San Gabriel<br />
facilities are not fully known at this time.<br />
Our businesses may also be subject to opposition by special interest groups which could result in schedule delays and increased costs.<br />
These special interest groups have the ability to participate in various regulatory processes and proceedings in an effort to influence<br />
the outcome.<br />
As part of the consultative process, our businesses work with Aboriginal groups, local landowners, special interest groups, counties,<br />
and municipalities. Stakeholder engagement is aimed at providing interested members of the public with information regarding our<br />
businesses and addresses their concerns. Stakeholder consultation does not assure that all risks associated with community opposition<br />
can be mitigated.<br />
We are unaware of any outstanding orders, fines, penalties or litigation for our businesses related to EH&S.<br />
Our Board of Directors has established an EH&S Committee to provide corporate oversight regarding EH&S compliance for our<br />
businesses. Alliance and Aux Sable also have EH&S Committees which report to their respective board of directors. Through regular<br />
reporting, the EH&S Committees ensure compliance with our EH&S corporate policy, including compliance with all applicable laws and<br />
regulations and maintaining a healthy and safe work environment for our employees, and the communities within which we operate.<br />
To support this commitment, we have established policies, programs, practices, including performance targets and reporting to senior<br />
management. Our policies, programs and practices are managed by experienced personnel and periodically reviewed and modified to<br />
ensure they conform with current laws, regulations, and industry practices.<br />
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