Annual campaign aims to increase natural gas safety awareness

Posted by Bob Zahn

Our annual natural gas pipeline safety awareness campaign is under way. We are sending information in bill inserts and airing radio commercials in English and Spanish throughout our service area. 

Though natural gas pipeline systems are regularly tested and problems seldom occur, you should call us at 800-261-LEAK (5325) if you ever smell an odor of rotten eggs, hear an unusual hissing sound or see dirt or debris blowing into the air near a natural gas line.

If you have natural gas service, you should add the natural gas emergency number to your cell phone. If you ever smell gas in your home, leave immediately and make the call from another location.

Here are the radio spots that are airing through mid-October:

English

Spanish

Maintaining a safe natural gas system

Posted by Bob Zahn

The natural gas explosion in California has prompted some questions about natural gas transmission and distribution systems, and what we do at We Energies to ensure safety.

We maintain about 530 miles of natural gas transmission pipe and about 20,000 miles of distribution mains.

Distribution mains are low-pressure, small-diameter pipes that move gas to neighborhoods. Transmission pipes, such as the one that ruptured in California, are larger pipes under higher pressure.

The National Pipeline Mapping System provides a high level view of where natural gas transmission lines are located. For security reasons, we do not provide maps showing exact locations of our pipelines, but we send letters to all customers within 1,000 feet of transmission lines each year.

We survey all of the transmission pipelines annually. We also survey all our distribution mains in populated areas each year to check for possible leaks. Distribution mains in rural areas are surveyed every other year. We also have about a million customer service lines, which are inspected every three years.

The surveys include walking the pipeline routes using highly sensitive equipment to find leaks. Regulatory agencies routinely audit the inspections. If we find a leak or other potential problem, we make repairs or improvements.

In addition to fixing any leaks or potential problems, we have ongoing system improvements. This year, we are replacing about 40 miles of aging natural gas lines with new piping that is more resistant to corrosion and earth movement. Each year, we invest about $50 million in upgrades and replacements to the distribution mains and service lines throughout our service area.

Pipeline damage
Most incidents involving natural gas pipelines involve a contractor or homeowner digging into buried distribution lines. To avoid such situations, be sure to call 811, a national hotline for underground facility location and marking – at least three days prior to digging. Using flags and paint, the free service marks any underground facilities that should be avoided when digging.

Reporting leaks
If you smell natural gas or have a natural gas emergency, leave immediately and call 800-261-LEAK (5325) from another location.

Listen to natural gas safety segment on 620 WTMJ Sunday Sip

More natural gas safety tips

Solar week shines in Milwaukee

Posted by Bob Zahn

When you think about solar power, you probably think about places like Arizona or California, places where the sun shines more often than in Wisconsin. However, new technologies are making solar power increasingly viable here.

We Energies is involved in Milwaukee Solar Week, Sept. 28 - Oct. 2, through our support of Milwaukee Shines, the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Cities Program, as well as our sponsorship of professional level conferences, seminars and workshops. The week includes guided tours of area homes that use renewable energy and have green building features on Oct. 2.

Here’s what’s happening during Milwaukee Solar Week:

Sept. 28
Solar 101
Urban Ecology Center
Riverside Park, 1500 E. Park Place, Milwaukee
5 to 8 p.m.

We Energies and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) are partnering to offer Solar 101. The three-hour seminar introduces participants to current solar electric and solar hot water technologies, site selection, system sizing, available incentives and installer selection. Cost: $15 ($5 for our Energy for Tomorrow customers). RSVP via e-mail or call 414-431-0758.

Sept. 29
Wisconsin's Solar Decade Conference
Frontier Airlines Center
Milwaukee
8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

This event showcases the latest solar technologies and applications, the state of the solar market and what's in store for solar energy. Keynote addresses from renowned experts Julie Blunden of SunPower Corporation and Jeff Wolfe of groSolar highlight this one-day conference. More information

Sept. 30 and Oct. 1
SOLAR THERMAL '10 
Frontier Airlines Center
Milwaukee

SOLAR THERMAL '10 is a national conference and expo for solar thermal heating and cooling professionals. More information

Oct. 2
Wisconsin Solar Tour 
Tour homes around Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin that feature renewable energy and green building features. More information

Various dates and locations
Renewable energy workshops
MREA workshops feature introductions to solar electric, solar hot water and wind energy technologies. More information