PG&E says 6,200 customers in Discovery Bay without gas
DISCOVERY BAY, Calif. (KGO) -- PG&E says 6,200 customers in Discovery Bay are without gas and could remain without service through Monday. The utility says an increase in the demand for gas due to cold temperatures resulted in a failure in the distribution system.
PG&E is running a warming center at Timber Point Elementary School.
Residents with gas heaters, gas water heaters, gas stoves, gas fireplaces and other gas appliances must plan to be without the devices until about 5 p.m. Monday.
The utility company released the following statement to its customers:
For our customers in Discovery Bay
Due to a recent cold snap in our service area, we are experiencing a service disruption in the gas facilities that serve customers in Discovery Bay. In order to make the needed repairs as quickly and safely as possible, we need to temporarily suspend gas service to some customers in the Discovery Bay area. We are working to restore gas service safely and as quickly as possible to restore service to our customers, but we expect the outage to last through Sunday night.
Actions we are taking
We have opened up a warming center at Timber Point elementary school, at 40 Newberry Lane in Discovery Bay, offering residents meals and a warm place to rest. We will continue to update... with other warming center locations, as they become available. PG&E gas service representatives will be going door to door in some locations, asking customers for access to their property to conduct pilot light tests. These tests should be brief and we appreciate our customers assistance in helping us perform these tests.
Important gas safety information
- If you smell gas, Get everyone outside immediately to a location where you can no longer smell natural gas
- Do not use electrical switches, appliances or telephones because sparks can ignite gas.
- Do not check for a gas leak with a match or an open flame
- Call 911 immediately, then call P&GE at 1-800-743-5002
- If you are able to do so safely, shut off the gas at the main service valve
- If you shut off the gas, do not attempt to turn it back on yourself, contact PG&E to perform a safety inspection before gas service is restored and appliance pilots are relit
- To report a gas outage, please call 1-800-743-5002 and let us know if you'd like to receive restoration updates by text or automated call
Additional Information
What Happens When There's a Natural Gas Outage
Gas outages can occur at any time. There are a number of causes, such as a natural disaster or a pressure regulator failure. When a gas outage occurs, the affected area must be isolated. This requires a PG&E employee to close off the main gas shut-off valve.
Natural Gas - A Key Energy Source
There are more than 1.5 million miles of transmission pipelines and distribution systems in the United States to provide natural gas to the millions of people who rely on it. PG&E's natural gas system spans 70,000 square miles and serves one out of every 20 residents of the United States.
Natural Gas Safety Tips
Gas safety is important, and being prepared can you help avoid dangerous situations. Find out what to do if you suspect a gas leak, how to detect carbon monoxide, how to turn off your gas in an emergency, and other valuable advice.
Bay City news contributed to this report.
