🔺November 6 – Black Hills Energy is continuing restoration work in the Pagosa Springs-area. Customers who have experienced a natural gas outage because of the storm are asked to have their natural gas appliances inspected by a licensed professional after electric services have been restored. Damaged appliances must be repaired or replaced before gas can safely be restored to the premise.
After these steps are completed, customers are asked to call Black Hills Energy at 888-890-5554 to have their natural gas service restored and damaged metering equipment replaced. Additional steps may be required based on the condition of the home after technicians arrive.
Technicians are working extended hours to repair the natural gas system and have been restoring service to homes and businesses. Progress continues to be made as we work with city officials and customers to safely and efficiently restore service.
Please remember the following safety tips:
- Do not attempt to relight your natural gas appliances yourself. Black Hills Energy trained technicians will conduct the relight during the scheduled appointment. Someone over 18 years old needs to be present.
- Be alert for leaking natural gas. If you smell natural gas, leave the building or area immediately and tell others to leave, too.
- After you’re safely away from the area, call 911 and our emergency number at 888-890-5554. Never assume someone else has reported a natural gas leak. Alert your neighbors.
- Do not turn on lights, ignite a flame, use a cell phone, or use anything that might cause a spark, including a flashlight or a generator while inside your home or any building.
- Never attempt to repair a natural gas leak, and do not attempt to turn natural gas valves on or off.
🔺November 4 – Recent flooding has affected portions of the natural gas supply infrastructure serving our region. To maintain reliable service, supplemental supplies of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) are being used to support the natural gas distribution system while impacted supply pathways are restored.This temporary LNG/CNG operation helps strengthen system reliability and support customers, businesses, and critical community services during flood recovery efforts.
What are LNG and CNG?
- LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to about -260°F, which turns it into a liquid and reduces its volume for efficient storage and transportation. When needed, LNG is safely converted back into a gas and delivered to customers through the existing natural gas system.
- CNG is natural gas that has been compressed to increase the amount that can be transported safely and efficiently. During the flood response, CNG provides an additional source of natural gas to help support the system and maintain reliable service for customers.
Natural gas safety tips
Our gas stinks for good reason. Natural gas is odorized to help keep you safe. Many describe it as smelling like rotten eggs. If your nose picks up this scent, take the following steps.
- Immediately leave the home or building where the smell is detected. Alert others to also vacate the premises.
- Do not open or close windows before you leave.
- Do not turn light switches on or off.
- DO NOT smoke or use electronics including mobile phones, garage door openers or alarm systems.
- Never start an engine or drive a vehicle where the odor is present.
- Find a safe distance away — approximately 300 feet or more — until you can no longer smell the gas odor.
- Once you reach a safe distance, call 911 and Black Hills Energy at 888-890-5554.
- DO NOT attempt to fix or adjust gas lines or related equipment.
- If you don’t own the property or residence, notify the property owner or manager.
- Stay away from the area until you are informed by Black Hills Energy employees or emergency responders that it is safe to return.
🔺November 2 – We continue to respond to significant flooding and damage across Archuleta and La Plata counties. Crews remain actively engaged in assessing impacts to the natural gas system and surrounding infrastructure, while working to safely maintain service for customers.
Despite challenging conditions and limited access in some areas, the natural gas system remains stable at this time. Crews are monitoring conditions closely and continuing to assess areas impacted by flooding as they become safely accessible. We continue to ask customers in the Pagosa Springs area to conserve natural gas.
If your gas service is interrupted, we’ll be in contact with you to coordinate a necessary re-light of your service. For your safety, please do not attempt to relight the pilot yourself.
Customers who need a safe, warm place to stay can contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Visit our Pagosa Springs information page for further updates related to this event or call our customer service number at 888-890-5554.
🔺October 29 – We continue to respond to impacts from heavy rain and flooding that damaged an Xcel Energy natural gas supply line and access roads near Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Additional crews and resources have arrived in the area to help support and maintain the natural gas system. This includes compressed natural gas trucks brought in from around the country to help maintain service for nearly 5,000 customers. We continue to ask customers in the Pagosa Springs area to conserve natural gas.
If your gas service is interrupted, we’ll be in contact with you to coordinate a necessary re-light of your service. For safety, we ask that you do not attempt to relight the pilot.
Customers who need a safe, warm place to stay can contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Visit our Pagosa Springs information page for further updates relating to this event or call our customer service number at 888-890-5554.
🔺October 27 – We are continuing our response to heavy rain and flooding that damaged an Xcel Energy natural gas supply line and access roads in the area around Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
To support and maintain our system, additional crews have arrived to the area and we have brought additional resources from around the country, such as compressed natural gas trucks that are fueling warmth to nearly 5,000 customers in the area.
Another priority is restoring service to the Bayfield area, where we anticipate crews will begin the relight process in the near future.
As we work to keep the energy flowing, we’re asking customers to take steps to conserve your natural gas usage.
Some things you can do to conserve gas at this time are:
• Lower your thermostat as much you can comfortably manage.
• Minimize hot water usage.
• Turn off natural gas fireplaces, garage heaters, and any other non-essential appliances that use natural gas heat.
We appreciate our customers’ patience during this extreme weather event, and we’ll continue to share updates as we have them on our website at blackhillsenergy.com/news/pagosa-springs-flooding.
🔺October 26 – Heavy rain and flooding have damaged an Xcel Energy natural gas supply line and access roads in the area around Pagosa Springs, Colorado. To support and maintain our system, we have dispatched extra crews to the area and have requested additional support and resources.
As we work to keep the energy flowing, we’re asking you to take steps to conserve your natural gas usage.
Some things you can do to conserve gas at this time are:
- Lower your thermostat as much you can comfortably manage.
- Minimize hot water usage.
- Turn off natural gas fireplaces, garage heaters, and any other non-essential appliances that use natural gas heat.
If your gas service is interrupted, we’ll be in contact with you to coordinate a necessary re-light of your service. For safety reasons, we ask that you do not attempt to relight the pilot.
We appreciate your patience during this extreme weather event, and we’ll continue to share updates as we have them.
Flooding safety tips
During a flood
- If it appears floodwaters may enter your home or business, or may reach your natural gas meter, call us immediately at 888-890-5554 to have service disconnected.
- Electric current passes easily through water, so don’t drive over or stand near downed power lines. If you see a downed power line, always treat it as if they are energized.
- For safety reasons, we will temporarily shut off natural gas service to customers who are affected by flooding.
- If you have time, unplug as many appliances as you can, including natural gas appliances. Note: We will not move furnaces, air conditioners or any other appliances to protect them from flooding damage, contact an HVAC dealer for this service.
After a flood
- Follow local safety instructions from emergency response officials. Do not return to your home until it is safe to do so.
- If natural gas meters and appliances are submerged in flood waters, they must be inspected by a technician before service is restored. Call our customer service number at 888-890-5554.
- A Black Hills Energy technician must inspect the metering equipment and an appliance repair professional must inspect natural gas appliance equipment before service can be restored. Note: the home must be clear of any standing water.
- Customers should never attempt to turn natural gas meters off or on by themselves.
- If your electric appliances and equipment have been under water, once dried out have them checked by a qualified repair person before use.
- Customers will need to work with their homeowner’s insurance carrier to discuss appliance and equipment repairs that may be required.