PG&E to Vent Gas This Afternoon

The gas odors that permeated the air in Redwood City, Woodside, San Carlos and Belmont last week were the result of a safe and routine procedure by PG&E known as natural gas venting. The lack of notification of this procedure on Wed., Sept. 26. and the subsequent alarm it caused by residents smelling the strong odor has prompted an apology by the utility company.

Today, PG&E wants to alert residents that the location for the Monday afternoon venting of PG&E natural gas piplines will take place from 1-e p.m. Mon., Oct. 1 in the area of Canada and Edgewood roads, near Woodside.. 

PG&E says delays pushed the Sept. 26 venting to the evening commute time.  The timing and a combination of weather patterns resulted in a much larger number of PG&E customers being impacted than they had anticipated.

PG&E is increasing their notification program to customers and will be avoiding the commute time for future venting work.

The utility company states that the work must be completed as soon as possible in order to maintain their "aggressive schedule of pipeline safety enhancement projects".  PG&E notes that while this work may cause some disruption it will make it possible for PG&E to replace two sections of Gas Transmission Line # 109, conduct a hydrostatic test and install new automatic shut off valves.
 
Depending on the location of the gas venting and weather patterns, there may be a smell of natural gas. PG&E wants to assure everyone that this situation is safe. 

Notification process enhanced

As part of their normal protocol, PG&E has and will continue to notify the appropriate public safety agencies, businesses and residents of this work.  They are working to avoid the impacts that were experienced on the Sept. 26. 

If there are delays in the venting process, PG&E says it will conduct additional proactive outreach.  This will include the use of SMC Alert to inform customers as well as sending out robo-calls to over 24,000 customers.  PG&E does not expect that many customers to be impacted by noise and odor, but they are acting out of an abundance of caution.
 
PG&E encourages any resident who has questions or concerns about the smell of gas to call PG&E 24 hours a day at 1-800-743-5000 or call 9-1-1 immediately. 

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