HOUSTON, Sept. 2, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CenterPoint Energy would like to remind the public of important post-storm natural gas safety tips:
* When you return to your home or business, be alert for the smell
of natural gas. If you smell gas, leave the area immediately and
tell others to leave too.
* Do not turn the lights on or off, smoke, strike a match, use a
cell phone or operate anything that might cause a spark,
including a flashlight or a generator.
* Do not attempt to turn natural gas valves on or off. Once safely
away from the area, call 888-876-5786, and CenterPoint Energy
will send a trained service technician immediately.
* If your home was flooded, call a licensed plumber or gas
appliance technician to inspect your appliances and gas piping to
make sure they are in good operating condition before calling
CenterPoint Energy to reconnect service. This includes outdoor
gas appliances including pool heaters, gas grills and gas lights.
* Call 811, the nationwide Call Before You Dig number, to locate
underground natural gas lines and other underground utility lines
before digging on property or conducting debris clean-up.
* Customers should know where their natural gas meter is located.
As debris is put out for heavy trash pick up, make sure it is
placed away from the meter. In many areas the meter may be
located near the curb and trash collectors use mechanized
equipment to pick up heavy debris. If debris is near a gas meter,
the equipment could pull up the meter, damaging it and causing a
potentially hazardous situation. If this does happen, leave the
area immediately and call CenterPoint Energy at 888-876-5786.
CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution, competitive natural gas sales and services, interstate pipelines and field services operations. The company serves more than five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. Assets total over $18 billion. With about 8,600 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 130 years. For more information, visit the Web site at www.CenterPointEnergy.com.
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