I n early March, CenterPoint Energy combined rapid response and innovative thinking to address a natural gas outage that occurred in Seguin and McQueeney, Texas, and affected more than 4,300 customers.
The outage resulted from a pipeline company, unrelated to CenterPoint Energy, damaging its own line, which feeds the CenterPoint Energy natural gas system serving these areas. The company’s priority was to safely restore natural gas to customers as quickly as possible. Special focus went to providing service to critical facilities, such as hospitals, by securing backup gas service while the pipeline was being repaired.
On the same day as the outage, CenterPoint Energy was able to secure portable compressed natural gas to feed some critical facilities in the area, including Guadalupe Regional Medical Center and a nursing home. Both facilities were served by portable CNG for two days, until CenterPoint Energy crews were able to reconnect their natural gas service.
The utility said it has emergency plans in place to respond to incidents and maintains great relationships and existing contracts with multiple suppliers of onsite CNG and liquefied natural gas that can be utilized in a variety of situations, including these emergency needs to critical infrastructure.
“During our natural gas restoration efforts in Seguin and McQueeney, Texas, safety was our top priority,” Tal Centers, CenterPoint Energy’s vice president, Texas Gas, told American Gas. “As soon as the pipeline company made the necessary repairs, our crews worked long hours to get every impacted customer’s service restored. Throughout the process, we collaborated with local officials and utilized all our communications channels to keep everyone informed.”
More than 300 company employees, contractors and mutual assistance crews helped expedite the restoration process.