Our commitment to safety was recently reinforced thanks to the vigilance of our field employees – and it serves as an important reminder for all customers: please do not attempt to inspect, modify or repair gas equipment on your own.
With warmer weather here, many homeowners are tackling summer landscaping and DIY projects. It’s the season of digging, building and fixing. Remember, when it comes to anything involving gas systems, leave it to the professionals.
Two recent incidents illustrate just how dangerous DIY gas work can be:
- A technician responded to a routine meter change at a Camden County home, only to discover that a previous customer had removed the gas regulator and rebuilt the meter set themselves. Fortunately, the gas supply was locked off when the technician arrived, preventing what could have been a very dangerous situation.
- Just days later, two of our Appliance Service technicians arrived at a home in Somerset County to perform a meter and regulator change. Upon starting the job, they quickly spotted evidence of tampering with PSE&G’s gas regulator, which had likely been there for some time. The customer later admitted he had attempted to “tighten things up” himself, unintentionally causing an unsafe situation.
These are examples of why you can’t just ‘do it yourself’ when it comes to gas systems – it can have serious consequences.
Our systems are designed to be handled only by qualified professionals with the proper training, tools and protective equipment.
– Brian Clark, SVP of Gas Operations at PSE&G.
“We urge customers to call us immediately at 1-800-880-PSEG (7734) if something doesn’t seem right. In both cases, our employees responded quickly and appropriately to prevent harm and keep our customers safe,” said Brian Clark, SVP of Gas Operations at PSE&G.
Both incidents prompted immediate, coordinated responses from many different teams to ensure the homes were made safe and procedures were properly followed.
As always, if you suspect a gas leak or other gas-related issue, call us at 1-800-880-PSEG (7734) or 911. And before you dig, remember to always call 811 to stay safe and avoid fines.