After a contractor hit a natural gas line in Petersburg, Virginia, earlier this month, evacuations were ordered nearby, and nearly 100 Columbia Gas of Virginia customers lost service.
Here's what to know
Columbia Gas of Virginia said a third-party contractor struck one of its natural gas lines in a historic residential neighborhood near downtown. The incident led to evacuations in the area, WRIC reported.
Before repair work started, the utility said crews worked to make the scene safe. WRIC reported that residents were being allowed to return to their homes to check their meters.
The damage knocked out natural gas service for nearly 100 Columbia Gas of Virginia customers.
After repairs are finished, the company said crews will go to affected homes to restore service, perform safety checks, and relight gas appliances, according to WRIC.
More background
Gas line strikes can pose both an immediate safety threat and a slower recovery process. Even after a leak is secured, utilities typically must inspect homes one by one before restoring service.
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In this case, customers who aren't home when restoration crews arrive will receive a door hanger telling them to call 1-800-543-8911 so a technician can be dispatched, Columbia Gas of Virginia said.
What's being done?
The response is unfolding in stages: Technicians first secured the area, then moved into repairs, followed by the house-by-house process of restoring service.
Trained workers often need to check and relight gas appliances after service is interrupted. Utilities do this to reduce the risk of leaks or improper appliance operation once service resumes.
"Our Columbia Gas technicians have made the situation safe, and will now start making repairs," a Columbia Gas of Virginia spokesperson said.
Where can I learn more?
The Petersburg leak began with an accidental line strike, but the questions around gas service go beyond one emergency response. The following TCD articles look at how natural gas and coal infrastructure can affect public health, energy costs, and our natural environment over time.
• In West Virginia, aging coal plants have cost ratepayers more as operating expenses climb.
• Across the country, utilities are costing Americans hundreds of millions by keeping old coal plants open.
• A new report shows wind and solar have produced more electricity than coal.
Together, these articles show that a local service outage is part of bigger concerns about safety, health, and utility costs. That helps explain why a single damaged gas line can draw attention well beyond the immediate repair work.
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