As part of National Fire Prevention Week, Piedmont Natural Gas is reminding customers about the importance of recognizing and responding to natural gas leaks. The company emphasizes that an odorant called mercaptan is added to natural gas, giving it a distinct smell similar to rotten eggs, making leaks easier to detect.
“Our customers value safety, and we’re committed to continually educating the community about the simple ways to detect natural gas leaks,” said Brian Weisker, president of Piedmont Natural Gas. “Natural gas leaks can be managed quickly and safely if you know what to look for, and it starts with training your nose to recognize the odor of mercaptan.”
In addition to its distinctive smell, natural gas leaks may also present visual or audible signs such as bubbling water, blowing dirt, dead plants, sinkholes, exposed pipes, or a hissing sound near a line or meter.
Piedmont advises that if a person suspects a leak due to the smell of natural gas or other indicators, they should leave the area immediately and call Piedmont at 800.752.7504 or dial 911 from a safe location away from the suspected leak. People are instructed not to return until cleared by a technician or emergency responder.
The company also recommends installing a natural gas detector as an extra precaution. These detectors are available at major retailers and home improvement stores and will alert residents if there are unsafe levels of natural gas in their home.
If such an alarm sounds, individuals should evacuate immediately and contact emergency services or Piedmont using the numbers provided.
Piedmont Natural Gas is a subsidiary of Duke Energy and supplies more than 1.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The company recently ranked highest in customer satisfaction among large utilities in the South according to J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Gas Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study.
For more information on safety measures related to natural gas usage, customers can visit the Piedmont Natural Gas website at piedmontng.com.
