NJNG CONTINUES TO MAKE PROGRESS IN STORM DAMAGE ASSESSMENT; MUTUAL AID SPECIALISTS ANSWER CALL FOR ASSISTANCE

Update Issued at 3 p.m.

New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), today, reports that more than 100 mutual aid restoration specialists from other utilities have so far answered our call for help. These personnel are working side-by-side with NJNG employees and contractors to assess the damage to our system—a key first step that will inform the development and implementation of our restoration plan.

Customers may notice trucks from the following companies that are aiding in our critical work: PSE&G, Unitel, Chesapeake, Central Hudson, Philadelphia Gas Works, UGI and Baltimore Gas and Electric.

We expect even more responders in the days to come, and we appreciate their invaluable assistance in helping us restore service to every one of our customers.

In Monmouth County, we are conducting an assessment of our system in Sea Bright, retiring service to 260 condemned dwellings, and responding to turn-on and turn-off orders throughout the system.

NJNG is making substantial progress on our damage assessment on LBI. In Monmouth County, we have completed the initial engineering assessment in Sea Bright, and engineering design has begun for the restoration of service in Manasquan. 

As homeowners in the affected areas begin to gain access to their homes, we are reminding every customer that, for safety reasons, they must NOT attempt to work on their natural gas meter and service lines. Moreover, although natural gas is not currently flowing through the pipeline in some areas, this could significantly hamper our efforts to restore natural gas service.

All customers who have had service interrupted—both within and outside the shut-off areas-- should be advised that when their area does have natural gas service, the following conditions must be met before service can be restored: first, their home must be habitable and they must have returned to it; second, their home must have electricity; and third, any furnaces, boilers or appliances that were exposed to flooding must be serviced and determined, by qualified technicians, to be safe for use.

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