The Hope Gas Home and Business Safety Center
Your Guide to Natural Gas Safety
At Hope Gas, your safety and the safety of our community are our top priorities. We are committed to delivering natural gas safely and reliably to your homes and businesses. This commitment is upheld through rigorous safety programs and continuous training for our personnel. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the information provided here to help us maintain a safe environment for everyone.
Operating essential energy infrastructure means we have a significant public safety responsibility. Earning and keeping your trust is vital. We demonstrate our commitment through proactive safety measures like pipeline replacement programs and rigorous system monitoring. By investing in safety, creating local jobs, and basing our headquarters in the Mountain State, we strive to do what's best for West Virginia.
Safety: A Shared Responsibility
Natural gas safety is a partnership between Hope Gas and you, our customer. While we maintain the pipeline system delivering gas to your property, your continued awareness is key. An informed customer is a vital safety asset.
This Safety Center provides the knowledge you need to use natural gas safely, understanding potential hazards and how to respond in an emergency. It clarifies our role in system maintenance and your role in safe appliance use and reporting concerns.
Protecting Our Communities Together: Stop, Observe, Report
If you see unusual or suspicious activity near a natural gas pipeline or other company facility, please report it immediately so we can protect you and our vital infrastructure.
Call the Hope Gas 24/7 Emergency Hotline number (1-800-934-3187) to report. In an emergency, always call 911 first.
Keeping You Comfortable While Keeping You Safe
The natural gas that warms your home, heats your water, and cooks your food travels through an extensive underground network of pipelines. This system spanning thousands of miles throughout West Virginia is designed to deliver energy safely and reliably. Maintaining the integrity of this vast network is a complex and continuous process guided by rigorous federal and state safety standards.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) sets federal safety standards for natural gas pipelines. These require operators like Hope Gas to implement comprehensive Pipeline Integrity Management Programs. These programs proactively identify and manage risks. For the large transmission pipelines, specific Transmission Integrity Management Program rules apply. For local lines, a dedicated Distribution Integrity Management Program ensures safety.
What does DIMP include?
- Leak Detection and Repair: Implementing regular surveys to identify and promptly repair gas leaks.
- Corrosion Control: Protecting underground metallic pipelines from corrosion through cathodic protection and protective coatings.
- Damage Prevention: Working closely with the public to prevent third-party damage to our underground facilities (e.g., through the "Call Before You Dig" service).
- Pipeline Material Assessment: Evaluating the condition and integrity of various pipeline materials used in our distribution system.
- Pressure Management: Maintaining appropriate gas pressures within the distribution system to ensure safe and efficient delivery of gas.
- Emergency Preparedness: Having plans and resources in place to respond quickly and effectively to any incidents within the distribution network.
Through DIMP Hope Gas strives to minimize risks, ensure the safety of our customers, and maintain the reliability of our natural gas service in West Virginia.
What does TIMP include?
- Regular Inspections: Utilizing advanced tools and technologies to detect and assess potential issues within the pipelines.
- Preventive Maintenance: Implementing proactive measures to prevent corrosion, leaks, and other forms of pipeline degradation.
- Risk Assessment: Continuously evaluating potential risks to our transmission system and developing strategies to mitigate them.
- Emergency Response Planning: Maintaining robust plans and trained personnel to respond effectively to any pipeline incidents.
- Public Awareness: Educating communities about pipeline safety and how to recognize and report potential issues.
By diligently applying TIMP, Hope Gas aims to prevent incidents, protect the public, and ensure the reliable delivery of natural gas.
