Gas Survey
As part of our commitment to regulatory compliance and safety, we routinely conduct natural gas surveys on the gas distribution system throughout our service area. These surveys are required under federal and state regulations and require that the gas distribution system is inspected up to the outlet of a customer's gas meter to ensure the integrity of the natural gas system.
We understand how much you rely on your natural gas service and assure you we make every effort to perform this work as quickly and safely as possible.
Q: What happens during a gas survey?
A: LG&E's trained personnel use highly specialized equipment to detect the presence of natural gas. To do this, our personnel walk the natural gas pipeline routes. If the equipment detects the presence of natural gas, our technicians further investigate to isolate the location of the detected gas leak. Crews also inspect for corrosion and other possible issues while walking the pipeline.
Q: Why is LG&E performing a survey on my property?
A: LG&E is committed to providing safe, reliable natural gas service, as well as adhering to regulatory compliance. Federal and state regulations require natural gas companies to conduct surveys of the gas distribution piping up to the outlet of a customer's gas meter to ensure the integrity of the natural gas system. We will make every effort to perform the work as quickly and safely as possible to minimize any inconvenience to you.
Q: Is natural gas dangerous?
A: When used properly, natural gas is safe and reliable. It is not toxic, and it is not poisonous. Natural gas does displace breathable air, so if someone starts to feel sick or light-headed and you detect a natural gas odor the individual is being deprived of oxygen. Natural gas is lighter than air; therefore, if it is outside it rises into the atmosphere and dissipates.
Natural gas is flammable, which is how we access its energy. For natural gas to burn, there has to be a correct air to gas mixture. Our natural gas system is designed to ensure the flammable mixture does not exist while the natural gas is within our piping.
Therefore, we perform regular surveys to ensure the natural gas remains inside the piping to reduce any risks associated with potential leaking gas.
Q: Why does LG&E have to come inside my home/business to perform the leak survey?
A: There are two situations where LG&E would need to access the inside of your home or business to conduct the survey.
A: Generally speaking, surveys are performed in residential areas every three years. LG&E surveys approximately one-third of its system every year. For business districts, LG&E is required to complete the survey annually. Locations along our gas transmission system are required to be surveyed once or twice a year depending on the attributes of the pipeline and the area where it lies.
A business district is defined by the amount of paving in the area. If the pavement extends from the street to the building for 200 feet, it may be considered a business district.
Q: I have been living in my home for a long time. Why haven't I seen evidence of a survey before now?
A: In many cases, the survey can be performed without any impact on our customers. Therefore, we may have visited your area at a time when you were not at home so you wouldn't have seen our crews when they were in the area. We make every effort to perform the work without intruding and we only notify our customers during the survey work when we detect a potential natural gas issue that needs to be addressed.
Q: How do I avoid damaging buried lines in my yard when my plumber or I am digging?
A: The individual who is doing the excavating should contact local utilities to request that the buried lines be located. In most cases, this can be accomplished by contacting Kentucky 811 (dial 8-1-1). Kentucky 811 coordinates with member utility companies (LG&E is a member utility) of your plans to excavate so they know to come locate their lines. The companies will place colored flags in your yard or use colored spray paint to indicate the locations of the buried lines. Companies typically locate up to their meter or junction box even if you own a portion of the line. It can take up to 48 hours from the time you call to get the lines located.
Q: Will it be necessary for LG&E to dig my entire yard to replace my natural gas service line?
A: The type of work required and the impact on customer property varies from service to service. Much depends on the layout of the yard, the condition and size of the existing piping and the route of the current piping.
Q: Who is responsible for fixing my driveway or sidewalk if a leak is detected?
A: If the natural gas service is located under the sidewalk or driveway at your property line (the point where LG&E's facility connects to the service line), LG&E will make the necessary repairs and restore the area as close as possible to its previous condition.
Q: How will I know if I need to be home so you can survey the piping that leads to my meter?
A: If your meter is inside and you are not at home when we visit to perform the survey, we will leave a notice on your door. This notice will include a telephone number to contact us to schedule an appointment to allow us to perform the survey. If your meter is outside, it will not be necessary for you to be home when the survey is performed.
Q. What if I have additional questions that have not been answered here?
A. We encourage you to contact us at 502-589-1444 (outside Louisville, call 1-800-331-7370) Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. if you have questions or need additional information about the survey or any other inspection work that is happening in your area.
We understand how much you rely on your natural gas service and assure you we make every effort to perform this work as quickly and safely as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happens during a gas survey?
A: LG&E's trained personnel use highly specialized equipment to detect the presence of natural gas. To do this, our personnel walk the natural gas pipeline routes. If the equipment detects the presence of natural gas, our technicians further investigate to isolate the location of the detected gas leak. Crews also inspect for corrosion and other possible issues while walking the pipeline.
Q: Why is LG&E performing a survey on my property?
A: LG&E is committed to providing safe, reliable natural gas service, as well as adhering to regulatory compliance. Federal and state regulations require natural gas companies to conduct surveys of the gas distribution piping up to the outlet of a customer's gas meter to ensure the integrity of the natural gas system. We will make every effort to perform the work as quickly and safely as possible to minimize any inconvenience to you.
Q: Is natural gas dangerous?
A: When used properly, natural gas is safe and reliable. It is not toxic, and it is not poisonous. Natural gas does displace breathable air, so if someone starts to feel sick or light-headed and you detect a natural gas odor the individual is being deprived of oxygen. Natural gas is lighter than air; therefore, if it is outside it rises into the atmosphere and dissipates.
Natural gas is flammable, which is how we access its energy. For natural gas to burn, there has to be a correct air to gas mixture. Our natural gas system is designed to ensure the flammable mixture does not exist while the natural gas is within our piping.
Therefore, we perform regular surveys to ensure the natural gas remains inside the piping to reduce any risks associated with potential leaking gas.
Q: Why does LG&E have to come inside my home/business to perform the leak survey?
A: There are two situations where LG&E would need to access the inside of your home or business to conduct the survey.
- The natural gas meter serving the property is inside the building. State and federal regulations require us to complete the survey to the outlet of the gas meter. To accomplish that, we must survey all of the piping up to the meter, regardless of where the pipe is located.
- If the property has a basement and is within a business district, state regulations require that we check the basement. This is to ensure the natural gas is not migrating through cracks in the wall, etc. and accumulating inside the building.
A: Generally speaking, surveys are performed in residential areas every three years. LG&E surveys approximately one-third of its system every year. For business districts, LG&E is required to complete the survey annually. Locations along our gas transmission system are required to be surveyed once or twice a year depending on the attributes of the pipeline and the area where it lies.
A business district is defined by the amount of paving in the area. If the pavement extends from the street to the building for 200 feet, it may be considered a business district.
Q: I have been living in my home for a long time. Why haven't I seen evidence of a survey before now?
A: In many cases, the survey can be performed without any impact on our customers. Therefore, we may have visited your area at a time when you were not at home so you wouldn't have seen our crews when they were in the area. We make every effort to perform the work without intruding and we only notify our customers during the survey work when we detect a potential natural gas issue that needs to be addressed.
Q: How do I avoid damaging buried lines in my yard when my plumber or I am digging?
A: The individual who is doing the excavating should contact local utilities to request that the buried lines be located. In most cases, this can be accomplished by contacting Kentucky 811 (dial 8-1-1). Kentucky 811 coordinates with member utility companies (LG&E is a member utility) of your plans to excavate so they know to come locate their lines. The companies will place colored flags in your yard or use colored spray paint to indicate the locations of the buried lines. Companies typically locate up to their meter or junction box even if you own a portion of the line. It can take up to 48 hours from the time you call to get the lines located.
Q: Will it be necessary for LG&E to dig my entire yard to replace my natural gas service line?
A: The type of work required and the impact on customer property varies from service to service. Much depends on the layout of the yard, the condition and size of the existing piping and the route of the current piping.
Q: Who is responsible for fixing my driveway or sidewalk if a leak is detected?
A: If the natural gas service is located under the sidewalk or driveway at your property line (the point where LG&E's facility connects to the service line), LG&E will make the necessary repairs and restore the area as close as possible to its previous condition.
Q: How will I know if I need to be home so you can survey the piping that leads to my meter?
A: If your meter is inside and you are not at home when we visit to perform the survey, we will leave a notice on your door. This notice will include a telephone number to contact us to schedule an appointment to allow us to perform the survey. If your meter is outside, it will not be necessary for you to be home when the survey is performed.
Q. What if I have additional questions that have not been answered here?
A. We encourage you to contact us at 502-589-1444 (outside Louisville, call 1-800-331-7370) Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. if you have questions or need additional information about the survey or any other inspection work that is happening in your area.
