Alberta regulator kept busy; sulfur emissions down by 26 percent

It’s all in the numbers for Alberta’s energy regulator, which conducted more field inspections, found a higher industry compliance rate and logged fewer pipeline failures through the energy boom of 2004.

The Energy and Utilities Board is also brushing off criticisms that it is not equipped to handle such unparalleled activity.

Employee numbers now stand at 845, compared with 675 in 2000, and the board’s funding has soared 85 percent over the same period to C$130 million.

Statistical highlights for 2004, showed:

• A compliance rate with major EUB regulations at 98 percent, up from 97 percent in 2003 and 96.5 percent in 2000.

• Initial field inspections rose to 10,167 from 7,910 the previous year.

• Public complaints about upstream operations were up 4 percent year-over-year at 850, but down 8 percent from 2000.

• The pipeline failure rate has shrunk by 27 percent since 2000, with failures for every 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) of pipeline at 2.4 last year against 3.3 in 2000.

• Sulfur emissions from Alberta gas plants have been slashed by 26 percent since 2000 – 58,000 metric tons compared with 78,000 – and by 75 percent since the 229,000 metric tons in 1974.

• The regulator suspended 118 energy facilities and operations in 2004, raising the total this century to 734.

—Gary Park