Columbia Gas Meter Move Out Program to Begin Work in Ellwood City

Ellwood City will be the focus of the Columbia Gas Meter Move Out Program.

Columbia Gas implemented the Meter Move Out Program to comply with a requirement from The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to locate all gas meters and regulators outside and above ground. Learn more about the program here.

Carla Parkes, senior public affairs specialist with Columbia Gas, said the program will impact commercial and residential properties within Ellwood City. Parkes said residents in the borough will start to receive 30-day notification letters from Columbia Gas alerting them to the program.

“Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania is making a significant investment to upgrade existing natural gas pipelines as part of our ongoing commitment to provide safe and reliable natural gas service to our customers.”

What Can Customers Expect:

Customers will receive a letter by mail giving a 30-day notification of work. Prior to starting work on your property, a company representative will be in your neighborhood to notify you in person or with a door hanger. The door hanger will contain contact information advising you to contact the representative in the event you have questions concerning the start of the project, scheduling of the work, or answer any specific questions about the work on your property.

The letter promises customers that Columbia Gas will fully restore any landscaping or disruptions to the property that occur as a result of the work as soon as weather permits.

How Do You Know that a Worker is Really from Columbia Gas:

All Columbia Gas representatives have photo identification badges that identify them as employees or contractors of Columbia Gas. Residents are welcome to ask to see this identification before allowing anyone into your home.

What work will be done:

Columbia Gas will temporarily interrupt gas service to your home or business for several hours and will relocate the natural gas meter from the inside of your home or business so that it will be located outside. This meter relocation will be completed at no cost to you. An outdoor meter provides ready access to a shut-off valve to first responders and Columbia Gas personnel in the event of an emergency.

A new outside meter location can only be determined after viewing the internal house line piping. Once interior conditions are known in conjunction with the exterior conditions, a representative will determine an appropriate outside meter location. At that time, this new meter location and any necessary changes will be communicated to you by a Columbia Gas representative.

The location of the meter may potentially be installed on the front, right, left, or back side of your structure, dependent on the interior and exterior conditions. At the time of project scheduling, the new outside meter location will be determined. Access to the inside and/or outside of the structure will be required in order to choose an appropriate outside meter location.

An exception may be granted if Columbia Gas can readily confirm that the building is, or is eligible to be, listed on the national register of historic places, or is located within a historic district that is listed in the national register of historic places.

Columbia Gas is regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (“PUC”). As a regulated utility, Columbia Gas must comply with the PUC’s regulations in Title 52 of the Pennsylvania Code (“Code”). Section 59.18 of the Code now requires that gas meters and pressure regulators be located outside.

Ellwood City Borough Council President Brad Ovial said this project was not mandated in anyway by the borough and is instead mandated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. He said all utility companies in the state must comply.

For questions or concerns, residents can reach out to Columbia Gas: Phone Number: 1-888-460-4332; Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 7 am to 7 pm; A list of Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.columbiagaspa.com/services/work-in-your-neighborhood/meter-move-out-program Residents can also contact the PUC’s Bureau of Consumer Services at 1-800-692-7380.