I've been talking with the City of Moorhead, and received the following press release from Xcel Energy regarding the natural gas leak and service disruption in south Moorhead. Xcel is working with the city and county to address all safety concerns and continue service as soon as possible.
Xcel Energy repairing natural gas equipment in Moorhead, Minn.
Snow plow struck equipment, approximately 975 customers without gas service until repairs are complete
Minneapolis (Feb. 15, 2019) – Xcel Energy crews are working to make repairs in Moorhead, Minnesota, after a snow plow struck and damaged gas equipment at 16th Ave. S. and 8th St. S. After assessing the damage, Xcel Energy crews determined that in order to safely make the repairs, gas service needed to be turned off about noon today to approximately 975 customers in the Moorhead area. Crews are on the scene working as quickly and safely as possible to repair the damage and restore service. Crews are also going door-to-door to turn off natural gas meters to affected customers. We are working closely with local officials and responders to manage the
We know it’s extremely cold and we appreciate customers’ patience as more than 100 employees work to repair the damage and restore service to area homes. Our customers’ safety is our top priority. In addition to our crews working to make these repairs, Xcel Energy is coordinating with local officials and first responders. We also have a team securing additional resources for those customers who have been impacted and are reaching out to those customers directly. We will keep customers updated through phone calls, social media, and our website.
Once repairs are completed, Xcel Energy will have crews going door-to-door to restore service and relight pilot lights on gas appliances when it is safe to do so. At this time we don’t have a specific estimate as to when service will be restored.
As an important safety reminder, if you ever detect a sulfur or “rotten egg” smell inside or near your home, it could be the odorant we put in natural gas to help detect leaks. If you notice that smell, leave your home immediately. Do not turn any electrical devices on or off and never use any phone until you are outside and safely away from the area. Then, call us at 1-800-895-2999. In an emergency, call 911.
Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit www.xcelenergy.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.