About 200 of Atmos Energy’s 800 customers who lost natural-gas service won’t have it restored until this afternoon, a company spokesman said Thursday.
Atmos originally estimated that 1,500 customers lost natural-gas service when a valve malfunctioned Wednesday evening, but revised that down to 800 Thursday morning. About three-quarters, or 600 households, had their lines restored Thursday, Atmos spokesman Brian Martens said.
Atmos crews, about 20 people total, were brought from several parts of the state to help local employees. They planned to work until 10 p.m. Thursday, Martens said. They will return starting at 7 a.m. today.
“People do need to be home to have their gas turned back on,” Martens said, “because we’re going in and relighting all the appliances.”
A door hanger will be left at houses where no one is home, he said. Residents can call (888) 286-6700 to get their gas meters turned on and appliances relit. Late Thursday afternoon, Martens said they were finding the majority of residences had someone home.
Atmos has secondary contacts and cellphone numbers for many customers, so it is trying to reach those people who might be out of town to see if a friend or neighbor has a key.
Crews worked all night Wednesday to shut off the gas meters in the affected area.
Unlike a power outage in which all customers on the same circuit get their lights back at the same time, restoring natural gas service requires turning on each customer’s individual gas meter and relighting their appliances one at a time.
Martens said Atmos workers will be wearing company uniforms and driving trucks with the company logo.
The valve malfunctioned during routine maintenance about 6 p.m. Wednesday, and on Thursday,x some customers in the Hillcrest area contacted by The Durango Herald still weren’t aware they had no natural gas service. There was enough warm water in the morning to meet their needs, they said.
Other customers said they heat with electricity.
For Erinn Morgan, getting the natural gas turned on at her Skyridge home had an important deadline.
“My in-laws are flying in from Australia,” she said. “They’re 80 years old, and I want to be able to offer them a hot shower.”
The National Weather Service was predicting an overnight low of 37 degrees, a little warmer than Wednesday night. Conditions may be a little more miserable both for Atmos crews and their customers who still don’t have heat today. With a 60 percent chance of showers and a forecast high of 54 degrees – about 15 degrees lower than Thursday – it could be a long day for all of them.
Restoring service began Thursday morning at Fort Lewis College. Crews then began visiting customers in the Hillcrest and SkyRidge neighborhoods and along Goeglein Gulch Road.
“Our crews are telling us how nice Durango residents are, so cordial and really appreciative of their efforts,” Martens said. “It’s very refreshing, and we’d like to express our appreciation for their patience.”
Staff Writer Ann Butler contributed to this report.
daler@durangoherald.com
To call
People who need their gas meter and appliances relit can call Atmos Energy at (888) 286-6700. A door hanger was being left at houses where no one is home.
