Thank a gas tech for keeping the heat on

For most, the ability to take a hot shower, cook dinner on the stove, or heat their home may seem like a simple task and something most people might take for granted.

In reality, a lot of work goes into providing safe and reliable natural gas to 145,000 meters.

Construction crews accidentally cut gas lines. Vehicle accidents cause damage to above-ground equipment. During winter weather, extra attention is required at regulator stations to maintain pressure when demand for gas increases.

All this work is performed by CoServ Gas technicians, the dedicated specialists who are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Due to the surge of new growth and development in the North Texas area, one of the most frequent jobs is responding to a gas line that’s been accidentally hit by construction crews.  These incidents can mostly be prevented by calling 811 before digging to ensure utility lines are properly marked.

But when accidents do happen, CoServ Gas makes efforts to reduce how many Customers are affected by the service interruption. Similar to how electricity can be rerouted through backfeeding (see the February edition of Texas Co-op Power), natural gas can also be bypassed to minimize disruptions while repairing a cut line or other problems.

On March 18, we recognize Natural Gas Utility Workers’ Day to honor the crews who make this difficult and dangerous job into a skilled and safe career.

“CoServ Gas techs are in your community every day to ensure reliable and safe delivery of natural gas to our Customers,” said Daniel Creed, Construction Supervisor – Gas Maintenance Crews. “We want to recognize them this March 18 and, really, every day for the sacrifices they make so we always have gas for our stoves, heaters and hot water tanks.”

CoServ Gas is committed to safety, and we have the awards to prove it. As a result of this strong safety ethic, CoServ Gas received a Safety Achievement Award from the Texas Gas Association for having a stellar record in 2020. Over the course of the year, there were less than seven hours missed due to work-related accidents out of nearly 150,000 hours worked by CoServ Gas Employees.

For all the above reasons, CoServ Gas Employees represent the best of the best at what they do. This March 18, please take the time to thank them for all they do to keep gas flowing to your community.

The March 18 date is significant because it marks the anniversary of the New London school explosion in East Texas. The 1937 disaster led to the odorization of natural gas and an increased emphasis on safety.