NJNG EXPECTS TO BEGIN RE-PRESSURIZING SYSTEM IN BAYHEAD TO SEASIDE ON DECEMBER 3

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

Bay Head to Seaside
65 percent of our damaged 12 inch main has now been replaced.  We expect to complete this work prior to re-pressurizing our system, which is scheduled to begin December 3. 

Following the removal of debris on three side streets, we identified additional anomalies on our main. If our infrastructure serving a side street has suffered such extensive damage that it cannot be repaired prior to re-pressurization, we will bypass the damaged street until repairs are completed and those areas can be safely brought back online. This will allow us to re-pressurize the entire system and restore service to our customers in all towns most quickly.

Beginning December 2, we will post a map of our work area for each day at www.njng.com. As soon as an area has been successfully re-pressurized, a second team will begin meter rebuilds for that area. 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.

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 County
In Manasquan, we have installed and repaired 93 services, 51 percent of our affected customers. We will continue to repair, replace and turn on services, as needed, throughout Monmouth County.

Ocean County Mainland
All affected customers with safe conditions now have natural gas available to their meters.  We will continue to repair and replace individual services, as needed, throughout Ocean County.

Long Beach Island
We have substantially completed our restoration of natural gas service to Long Beach Island. Assessment will be ongoing, as well as follow-up for those properties that suffered extensive damage.

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 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.

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