Pipeline Safety

Your safety is our most important priority. So we take extra precautions to ensure the integrity of our natural gas infrastructure—from the wellhead to your home and business. We go above and beyond state and federal rules and constantly invest in our transmission and distribution pipelines to deliver natural gas safely and reliably.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, pipelines are the safest, most reliable and cost effective means of transporting energy products, such as natural gas, over long distances. The federal government sets standards for the development of integrity management programs for pipelines. The most stringent requirements are for pipelines near high consequence areas including densely populated areas or places where people congregate such as schools, parks and campgrounds.

We have many programs in place to maintain the safety of our natural gas system, including:

• All pipe is factory-tested to make sure it meets our safety standards
• Newly-installed pipes are inspected and tested in accordance with state and federal requirements prior to being placed in service
• Our cathodic protection program uses a low-voltage electric current to help reduce or eliminate corrosion
• We use high-tech devices called “smart pigs” to locate any flaws in the pipe’s protective wrap, dents or small internal weaknesses
• We conduct ground and aerial surveys to check every inch of our 2,550 miles of transmission pipelines at least once a year
• We respond to more than 300,000 MISS DIG 811 requests each year to mark natural gas pipeline locations so excavators can dig safely
• We use sophisticated technology to detect any abnormal pressure or flow in the natural gas system
• We have an extensive pipeline public awareness program to promote natural gas safety

We also count on the awareness of those living and working near our natural gas system to inform us of unusual activities. Contact us immediately at 800-477-5050 if you smell a rotten egg odor or detect unusual operating conditions or activities surrounding our natural gas system.

We take our responsibility to keep our customers and communities safe very seriously. In 2019, as part of our unwavering focus on safety, we implemented a Safety Management System (SMS) for our Natural Gas operations. This new system is a significant new commitment to reducing risk.

Within our Safety Management System we follow effective processes and procedures, keep accurate work records, and encourage a culture of honesty, open feedback and continuous learning. All so we can deliver natural gas to our customers more safely.

We work closely with police, fire and emergency responders and respond promptly to all natural gas emergency calls. If you are interested in scheduling first responder training for your police or fire department, contact our Public Safety Outreach Team.