Safety
Pipeline Safety
The pipeline infrastructure, which includes 2.2 million miles of pipeline across the nation's natural gas delivery system and delivers natural gas to 69 million customers per year, is the nation's safest energy delivery system according to U.S. government statistics. Safety incidents on natural gas pipelines are rare, yet more natural gas is traveling through the pipeline system than ever before.
Safety is the number one priority of America's natural gas industry. Distribution pipelines operate under rigorous safety laws. As a matter of fact:
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Together, gas utility and pipeline companies spend close to $7 billion per year to ensure that natural gas is delivered safely and reliably.
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All natural gas in distribution systems must be odorized so a leak can be readily detected without special instruments.
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Natural gas distribution pipes typically are regulated by both federal and state agencies.
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Federal pipeline safety code requires that distribution systems comply with tough requirements for design, construction, testing, inspection, operations and maintenance from the point of connection to the point of transmission, up to and including the customer's meter.
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Distribution systems regulated by a state agency are required by law to comply with standards that are at least (if not more) as stringent than those set forth in federal minimum safety mandates.
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What Citizens does to ensure Pipeline Safety
For more information about pipeline safety, please visit the following web sites:
Want to Play an Active Role in Your Home's Safety?
Follow these easy maintenance tips:
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Clean air filters regularly and replace as needed.
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Ensure furnace panels and grills are in place and that the fan compartment door is closed when the furnace is on. Leaving these doors open can cause carbon monoxide to build up.
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Check to see that the furnace or boiler is free of dust, rust or corrosion.
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Keep the space around the furnace clean and clear.