REDDING — North Valley residents may notice an increased presence of PG&E crews in the coming week as the utility continues its mission of becoming the safest and most reliable provider of natural gas in the nation.
As part of a five-year, leak survey and maintenance program on its gas distribution pipelines, PG&E crews are now combining the use of state-of-the-art leak detection technology with a streamlined repair process to find and fix more leaks faster than ever before.
Crews will use vehicles with leak-detection technology to survey 155 miles of gas distribution pipeline within the North Valley over the next week.
Crews will survey 155 miles of gas distribution pipeline within the North Valley over the next week. Using a vehicle-mounted, leak-detection technology that is 1,000 times more sensitive than traditional equipment, PG&E is able to identify natural gas leaks with enhanced precision and speed and immediately schedule repairs or appropriate corrective actions.
The annual North Valley survey that normally would take months to complete using the traditional leak survey methods can now be accomplished in about nine working days. Cities being surveyed this year include portions of Redding, Anderson, Red Bluff, Chico, Biggs and Gridley.
“Our leak-sensing fleet can pick up even the slightest trace of a natural gas leak and that helps us keep our customers safe. This important gas safety program is helping enhance our system so we can continue the delivery of safe, reliable, affordable and clean natural gas to our customers,” said Lia White, senior manager of PG&E’s North Valley division.
If a gas leak is identified, it is designated a grade that guides appropriate follow-up action and repair. Some leaks require immediate attention while other, non-hazardous leaks are typically repaired within a two- to three-week time period. During repair work, customers may see PG&E trucks and other equipment in their neighborhoods while construction takes place on the natural gas lines, most of which are located under the street and, in some occasions, on property leading to customers’ meters.
This program creates an additional layer of protection for the utility’s customers. As part of PG&E’s commitment to safety, the company has also:
- Decommissioned all of the company’s 800 miles of cast-iron pipe in its system, replacing it with stronger, more resilient and seismically sound pipe
- Opened a new gas operations control center in 2013, which employs the most advanced technology available, providing unprecedented visibility into the natural gas system and enabling a more predicative and rapid response in an emergency
- Applied new gas leak detection technology that is 1,000 times more sensitive than traditional methods in order to help find and fix leaks before they become a problem
- Established itself as one of the fastest in the entire industry responding to gas odor calls—averaging 19.9 minutes in 2014
- Completed 10 out of the 12 recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board and work on the remaining two is on track
As part of PG&E’s maintenance work, there may also be a controlled and safe release of a small amount of natural gas while the service line is emptied for replacement. Customers may hear a loud steady noise and notice the smell of gas. While gas odors are likely from this work, PG&E encourages anyone with concerns to call 1-800-743-5000.
Email Currents at Currents@pge.com.