NJNG PROVIDES WEEKLY UPDATE ON SERVICE RESTORATION TO STORM-DAMAGED PORTIONS OF ITS SYSTEM

New Jersey Natural Gas today provided the following update of its restoration to the storm-damaged portions of its system:

This week, we made 523 meters ready for natural gas, 314 of which are on the Seaside peninsula. 

In the areas where we can safely restore service, we have rebuilt the residential meters and are now rebuilding those meters that are larger than residential, as well as multi-meter sets.  We estimate that these will be rebuilt by December 30.
We continue to repair the portions of our system that serve the more heavily damaged side streets where main or services were retired for safety reasons. This week, we re-pressurized 3,500 feet of main in West Lavallette, which serves the blocks of the following side streets that are west of Route 35 South: President, Princeton, Elizabeth, Bay, Newark and Baltimore. 

On the more heavily damaged side streets that we were forced to bypass during our initial re-pressurization, we are currently in another assessment phase to determine which of these mains can be safely re-pressurized and which sections will, in fact, need total replacement. We are developing a list of these areas, including street name and status, which will be posted on our website by January 1, 2013 and updated as progress is made. We appreciate your patience, as this assessment can take weeks; however, we expect to have many of the natural gas mains on these side streets re-pressurized within the next four to six weeks, or as existing roadway and building conditions permit.

Once your meter work has been completed, you should see a tag on your meter, which indicates that your home or business has natural gas to its meter. As soon as you see the tag, and your home or business has electricity and is habitable and occupied, then you may have your own qualified technician determine that your natural gas system and equipment are safe for use, and turn on your natural gas service.

Updates on our schedule and progress are available at www.njng.com.

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 800-GAS-LEAK.

With natural gas now restored to many 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.

For additional information, visit our Hurricane Sandy Resource Center at www.njng.com.