What to Do During a Natural Gas Outage

When people talk about a power outage, they’re usually referring to electricity service being down. But natural gas outages can happen, too, even though they’re relatively rare. Let’s take a look at some of the causes, why they matter and what you should do during a natural gas outage.

What causes natural gas outages?

When natural gas stops flowing though the pipelines to your home and appliances, it’s usually because it was stopped on purpose to address a safety issue or because something physically interrupted the system.

As we mentioned already, natural gas outages are rare in comparison to electricity outages, and that’s because gas lines run underground where they’re somewhat protected. Electricity is typically delivered through overhead lines, which are more vulnerable to weather, falling trees and other hazards.

Causes of natural gas outages include:

• Damaged gas lines from digging, excavation and construction: Always call 811 before digging, even for relatively small projects around your home.
• Severe weather and flooding: Although most gas infrastructure is underground, extreme conditions like flooding, landslides and ground erosion can occasionally affect natural gas equipment and interrupt service.
• Equipment maintenance, failures and repairs: Natural gas delivery relies on a network of equipment that occasionally needs maintenance, repair or replacement. When service interruptions are planned, utility companies will typically notify affected customers in advance.
• Emergency safety shutoff: Utilities may temporarily stop service to safely address a leak, damaged infrastructure or another emergency situations.

Who’s affected by natural gas outages?

Natural gas outages can affect anyone who relies on natural gas for heating, hot water or cooking. Homes, restaurants, manufacturers and hospitals can all experience disruptions when service is interrupted.

It's also important to understand that a natural gas outage is different from a natural gas leak. An outage means service has been interrupted, while a leak requires immediate safety precautions. For more information, check out our Natural Gas Leak Detection and Safety Tips.

What should you do during a natural gas outage?

If your natural gas service is interrupted, check for outage notifications or updates from your utility, especially if you have multiple gas appliances that aren't working, which is one of the most common signs of an outage. It can also be helpful to check with neighbors to see whether they're experiencing the same issue.

Follow any instructions provided by your utility and avoid attempting to restore service yourself. Unlike electricity, natural gas service often cannot simply be switched back on remotely. Before service can be restored, utility crews may need to perform safety checks and, in some cases, access individual homes or businesses to inspect equipment and return appliances to service safely.

Throughout the restoration process, your utility will provide updates and instructions, including information about restoration timelines and any actions that may be required on your part.

Thanks for reading our blog. Part of bringing warmth to life here at Gas South means helping keep you informed on some of the topics we happen to know a lot about. Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks ahead and be sure to follow us on social media.