75 PERCENT OF ANOMALIES IN BAY HEAD TO SEASIDE HAVE BEEN CLEARED IN ANTICIPATION OF RE-PRESSURIZATION ON DECEMBER 3

New Jersey Natural Gas today provided the following assessment and restoration updates for the damaged portions of its system:

Bay Head to Seaside

Our crews have now completed the plugging and capping of all meters, and are retiring individual services where required; both of these steps are necessary for the re-pressurization of our system. We have replaced 1814 feet, 35 percent, of our damaged 12 inch main, which is the backbone of our system that serves the Seaside peninsula. In addition, 75 percent of anomalies have been cleared, in anticipation of re-pressurization on December 3.

Barring unforeseen conditions that may delay our work, we anticipate restoring natural gas service by the end of December to all of our customers whose homes have not sustained such major damage that we cannot safely restore their service.
Monmouth CountyIn Manasquan, we have replaced all of the damaged main along First Avenue, 1780 feet, and continue to install and repair services to make gas available up to the meter. Restoration on the Bayshore in Laurence Harbor continues to be delayed by safety concerns on Cliffwood Way and Bayshore Avenue, pending Office of Emergency Management assessment.

Ocean County Mainland

Natural gas is now available to 9,947 of our affected customers’ meters, with 4,202 turned back on. Approximately 17,250 meters were affected. We have natural gas available to 58 percent of our affected customers.   

Long Beach Island

Our crews have completed the re-pressurization of the gas main on LBI and natural gas is now available to 11,272, 79 percent, of our customers’ meters.

Meters have been repaired and replaced on the entire northern end of the island. We are now completing our meter work on the southern end of the island, and expect to complete all rebuilds by Monday, November 26.

Once a meter has been re-established and you see a tag on the customer gas valve just past your meter, your home’s natural gas service may be turned on by your qualified technician--but only after electricity has been restored, you have safely returned to your home, and your qualified technician has determined that your natural gas equipment is safe to operate. 

Long Beach Island’s Joint Office of Emergency Management is requesting that residents with restored natural gas service bring back their electric space heaters to the Long Beach Township Police Department, so they can be reused by those who do not yet have service restored.

Federal, New Jersey and local safety codes prohibit tampering with natural gas meters and service lines. Even if natural gas service has not yet been restored to your area, this could significantly hamper efforts to restore service.

If you smell an odor of natural gas, leave the building immediately. Do not light matches, touch electrical switches or appliances, or use your telephone. From a safe location, customers should notify us of all gas leaks immediately at 1-800-GAS-LEAK. 

With natural gas now restored to some affected areas and property clean-up underway, please remember that at least three business days prior to outdoor construction or digging, contractors and property owners – whoever is excavating – must call New Jersey One Call at 811 or 800-272-1000 and take the following steps:

• Wait for the site to be marked with paint, flags or stakes. Yellow indicates the presence of underground natural gas lines.
• Respect the marks and dig with care.
• Hand dig only (no mechanized equipment) within two feet of buried piping and facilities.
• Be mindful that inclement weather may wash away the painted markings.