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 highlights that mercaptan, an odorant added to natural gas, gives it a distinct rotten egg smell, making leaks easier to detect.
Brian Weisker, president of Piedmont Natural Gas, stated, “Our customers value safety, and we’re committed to continually educating the community about the simple ways to detect natural gas leaks. 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.”
Natural gas is naturally odorless; however, mercaptan is added so that people can more easily notice leaks by smell. In addition to detecting a rotten egg odor, possible signs of a leak include bubbling water, blowing dirt or dead plants, sinkholes or exposed pipe. A hissing sound near a gas line or meter may also indicate a leak.
If someone suspects a leak due to any of these signs or smells:
– Leave the area immediately.
– Call Piedmont at 800.752.7504 or 911 from a safe location away from the suspected leak.
– Do not return until authorities confirm it is safe.
The company also recommends installing natural gas detectors as an extra precaution. These devices are available at major retailers and will sound an alarm if they sense dangerous levels of natural gas in the air. If such an alarm sounds, residents should leave immediately and contact emergency services or Piedmont.
Piedmont Natural Gas serves over 1.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee as part of Duke Energy’s operations. According to J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Gas Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study, Piedmont was ranked highest in customer satisfaction among large utilities in the South.
More information about natural gas safety can be found on the Piedmont Natural Gas website.
