Inside the Alberta Gas Co-ops: Luke Guest on Flexpipe’s 20-Year Legacy
We interviewed one of our #Canadian Account Managers, Luke Guest about our relationships with the various Member Utilities within the Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops Ltd. (FedGas) , and we’re glad we did! Read the interview below to get a better handle on Flexpipe’s impact within the gas co-ops, and what’s coming down the pipeline in the future!
Q: Can you describe how Flexpipe originally got involved in working with various Member Utilities (members) within the Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops Ltd. (Gas Co-ops)?
A: Historically, many members used aluminum pipe for their high-pressure gas distribution lines. In the early 2000’s, many realized that the aluminum pipe they previously chose was past their lifecycle – so they looked to #composite pipe to restore their current systems that needed to be replaced. Since 2006, members within the Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops Ltd. (FedGas) have installed over 280 kilometers of #Flexpipe products in over 20 co-ops across the province, with no incidents or ruptures to date.
Q: How has Flexpipe impacted the way that Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops Ltd operates?
A: Gas Co-ops is a business that’s very familiar with #spoolable products, even more than steel or other alternatives. Since they plow most of their low-pressure lines, it makes it a very seamless transition to their high-pressure lines by plowing Flexpipe. They get all the benefits as our other customers, like ease of installation, speed of installation, and more, but the top would have to be the seamless transition.
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Q: How have members within the Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops Ltd. approaches to steel lines changed since using Flexpipe?
A: Historically, aluminum lines weren’t replaced with Flexpipe unless necessary, but in the past few years Gas Co-ops members been more proactive in replacing aging steel lines, because they know that if a line goes down in the winter, it can result in down time for end users, which is cause for major concern because their product is heating houses – it could be life or death if heat goes down in the winter months in Alberta.
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Q: What makes the relationship between Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops Ltd and Flexpipe unique?
A: For almost 20 years, we’ve had a fantastic relationship with Gas Co-ops through our mutual support for one another. Flexpipe attends the Gas Co-ops annual winter meetings, and annual convention & trade fair and we learn so much and continue to foster relationships with people throughout Alberta. This year we’re actually being awarded with a 15-year participation plaque for exhibiting at the trade fair since 2009.
If you’re planning on attending Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops Ltd. (FedGas) annual Convention & Trade Fair 2024, be sure to stop by booth 49 from November 25th-26th at the River Cree Resort & Casino in Enoch, #Alberta to have a chat with Luke Guest in person!