Hurricanes, thunderstorms and other severe weather conditions can often times cause power outages lasting anywhere from a few hours to several weeks. For homeowners, this can be extremely inconvenient. But for businesses unable to serve customers, or otherwise generate income, it can be devastating. Fortunately, natural gas distribution lines are buried underground, therefore, providing nearly 100 percent service reliability. Imagine the capability to have all the basic comforts such as hot water and cooking before, during and after a storm. This capability alone provides a “no power, no problem” frame of mind for many homeowners and business owners, especially during severe weather.
Clearwater Gas System’s 2017 post-Hurricane Irma recovery efforts revealed that there were zero gas outages, and natural gas service continued to flow to more than 23,000 during, and after, the storm. In 2018 the Natural Gas Council released “Weather Resilience in the Natural Gas Industry” which examined the industry’s preparation during Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The study showed that through some of the most severe weather in 2017, and 2018, natural gas local distribution companies maintained service without issue. Homeowners were able to take hot showers, have warm food and comfortable homes even during extreme conditions. Even some local businesses remained opened and continued operating business as usual.
Although gas systems reserve the right, in the event of a major disaster, to turn off the gas to industrial and large commercial customers that contract for interruptible service, instances of such turn-offs are extremely rare in the natural gas industry.
“During major storms and power outages, Clearwater Gas System’s natural gas service has never been interrupted and natural gas has always continued to flow,” said Chuck Warrington, Executive Director.
Coincidently, Clearwater Gas System conducted its own reliability study (over a 10 year period) and discovered that its gas customers, on average, experienced a service interruption only about once every 81 years. Of course, from time to time, underground gas lines are sometimes damaged due to unintentional third party underground digging. As required by law the Office of Pipeline Safety instructs homeowners and business owners to call 811 at least two days in advance of digging projects, which helps homeowners and professionals avoid damaging vital underground utilities. And, most natural gas distribution lines are dual-fed for reliability.
While very few things are 100 percent reliable, Clearwater Gas System’s 99.9999 percent service reliability rate comes close. A team of about 100 full-time gas employees operate, and maintain, more than 1,000 miles of underground natural gas mains – in addition to providing liquid propane gas service and maintaining a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling station. Clearwater Gas System stands by its commitment to continue to be the energy provider of choice, offering various energy-efficient solutions to homes and businesses for years to come.
Chuck Warrington is the executive director for Clearwater Gas System.
Clearwater Gas System is the fourth largest municipal gas system in Florida and ranks 34th out of nearly 1,000 public gas systems in the United States. Clearwater Gas System provides natural and propane gas and compressed natural gas service to over 27,000 residential, industrial and commercial, customers in a 330 square mile service territory which includes 20 municipalities as well as unincorporated areas of Pinellas, Pasco and northwestern Hillsborough counties. Natural gas continues to be a viable, dependable and sustainable energy source for most residential, industrial and commercial applications. For more information about natural or propane gas, visit clearwatergas.com.
