Natural Gas Safety

By Dan McVey, Vice President & Chief Operating Officer — Gas Operations

The Energy Cooperative proudly provides safe and reliable natural gas to more than 36,000 members. We work hard to ensure every member has the energy they need for their home, organization or business. Safety remains our top priority for members, employees and the public.

Examples of What We Do to Keep You Safe

• Perform leak tests on our main lines and service lines before we activate them.

• Do periodic leak surveys throughout our system to locate and repair a leak before it becomes hazardous.

• Remotely monitor and control our pipeline facilities 24/7/365.

• Have crews on call 24/7/365 to respond to member concerns about any potential gas leaks.

• Add an organic compound to our gas that smells like rotten eggs (Mercaptan) to help alert you of gas leaks.

• Identify our natural gas pipelines with yellow markers to help prevent dig-ins.

What We Need You to Do For Your Safety

Learn the three ways to recognize a natural gas leak. To help you SMELL a leak from a gas line or appliance, a familiar odor like rotten eggs (Mercaptan) is added to natural gas and propane gas. Near a gas leak, you might SEE blowing dirt, bubbling water or an unusual area of dead vegetation. A leaking pipeline might make a hissing sound you can HEAR.

Note: Natural gas transported by gathering pipelines does not have the odorant mercaptan added. The gas may still have a distinct petroleum-like SMELL.

Always contact OHIO811 before you dig.

Before you break ground at any construction site or begin a project around your home, take the proper measures to achieve the highest level of safety possible. By law, everyone must contact OHIO811 at least two days before starting any digging or excavation work that involves any movement of the earth. This is required if you are installing a mailbox, planting a tree, building a deck or planning a project around your home. Always contact the Ohio Utility Protection Service (OUPS) before you start to dig at 811 or 1-800-362-2764.

Pay attention to pipeline markers.

The natural gas transmission, gathering and distribution pipelines we operate and maintain are mostly not visible to the public. The pipelines are buried below ground in our right-of-way. The approximate locations of our pipelines are identified by pipeline markers placed within the right-of-way. In accordance with federal regulations, our pipelines are patrolled on a regular basis to inspect for any leakage, corrosion problems, encroachment, etc. Some segments along our pipelines have been designated as “high consequence areas”. We have developed supplemental assessments and prevention plans for these highly populated areas that are near our pipelines’ right-of-way.

Know how to respond to a potential gas leak.

Leave the area immediately. Do not use anything that might create a spark, such as a cell phone. Do not turn lights on or off. Do not light matches, cigarette lighters or use a flashlight. When at a safe distance, call 911 and then call us at 1-800255-6815.

Maintain clear access to your meter.

Before natural gas enters your home or business, it passes through a meter (located outside your home or business). It is very important that we have clear access to your gas meter. This includes three feet of clearance on all sides for normal operations. Please consider the mature size of any plants before planting them. Landscaping that is too close to utility equipment is in danger of being damaged or removed.