Dear residents and businesses of Pioneer Square:
It’s always a good thing to know what natural gas smells like and what to do if you suspect a leak. That’s why PSE regularly sponsors public service announcements regarding gas safety. With the recent reports of ground settlement in some areas of Pioneer Square, which could affect underground utilities, we’d like to remind you of some basic safety tips and tell you what we’re doing to ensure the safety of the natural gas system in the neighborhood.
PSE regularly inspects the pipes, meters and other equipment that bring natural gas to the region. As a precaution, we have increased the frequency of these inspections in Pioneer Square. These inspections have not shown any signs of damage or increased incidence of gas leaks.
In addition, as part of the tunnel project, we have increased the resiliency of our gas system in areas above the tunnel route by retrofitting or rebuilding gas pipes and connections that might be affected by ground settlement.
If you should ever smell the rotten egg or sulfur-like odor of natural gas, leave the building immediately and call PSE or 911.
- Don’t do anything inside the building, including making a phone call, that could cause a spark.
- If you notice the odor outside, move upwind of the odor and call PSE or 911. Other signs of a leak include hissing, bubbles rising in a puddle, and dead vegetation in unexpected places.
- PSE will dispatch a technician immediately, at no cost, to investigate.
For more safety tips and to smell the odor of natural gas, please see our natural gas safety brochure, which includes a “scratch and sniff” feature. Click here to request a brochure.
If you have questions, please contact naturalgas@pse.com.
Respectfully,
Charlie Gadzik
Customer Safety Communications Manager
Puget Sound Energy