Infrastructure protection PG&E send safety information to customers living near gas pipelines
PG&E begins notifying customers of gas transmission pipeline locations and highlights actions the company is taking to make natural gas transmission lines safer; the letter safety brochures is being to 2.5 million homeowners and businesses located within about 2,000 feet of a natural gas transmission pipeline
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG@E), saying it was working to ensure that customers, neighbors, public officials, and first responders have the essential facts needed to help prevent accidents or respond to emergencies, last week began sending informational letters and safety brochures to 2.5 million homeowners and businesses located within about 2,000 feet of a natural gas transmission pipeline. The full mailing will take several weeks. See here for the full text of the letter and safety brochure.
“Our hearts and prayers are with those who have endured so much since the San Bruno tragedy,” said PG&E president Chris Johns. “We continue our aggressive work to enhance the safety of our pipeline operations, and we are committed to working with our customers, public safety officials and industry leaders on the safe delivery of natural gas throughout our service area. PG&E will continue to provide our customers with important safety information surrounding our natural gas transmission pipelines.”
“I thank PG&E for doing what I’d like every natural gas operator in this country to do: let customers know if they live or work near a transmission line,” said Representative Jackie Speier (CA-12). “Location information will increase customer awareness of gas leaks and that is a step forward for greater safety.”
The company says it is taking steps to make its natural gas transmission pipelines safer. Working with industry experts, PG&E previously announced Pipeline 2020 — a new program to guide the utility’s efforts to strengthen its natural gas transmission system and advance industry best practices over the coming decade. Under the program, PG&E will upgrade and modernize natural gas transmission pipelines, invest in more automated or remote-controlled shutoff valves, develop next-generation inspection technologies, and enhance public safety partnerships.
The letters are only being sent to homes and businesses within approximately 2,000 feet of a natural gas transmission pipeline. Customers who do not receive this letter but still want to learn more about the location of PG&E’s natural gas transmission pipelines may visit this Web page or call the PG&E Information Hotline for Gas Transmission Pipeline Locations at 1-888-743-7431. Customers may also visit this Web site — a resource that shows the location of natural gas transmission pipelines county by county, throughout the United States. The company says that customers with questions or concerns regarding the smell of gas are urged to call PG&E 24-hours a day at 1-800-743-5000 or call 911 immediately.
