The Ontario Energy Board, or OEB, approved Union Gas Ltd.'s application to expand its service territory in the region to include new rural and northern communities.

The Enbridge Inc. utility expanded its natural gas service to Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, Lambton Shores, Milverton, Rostock and Warburg, while the Delaware Nation of Moraviantown First Nation received conditional approval as it awaits funding from the natural gas grant program, according to an Aug. 11 news release.

Union Gas expects to begin construction in 2017, extending into 2018. The expansion takes advantage of a new framework by the OEB that allows service expansion to communities that would otherwise be uneconomical.

Union Gas provides service to about 1.4 million customers in over 400 communities in Ontario.