Foothills Natural Gas Co-op is here to provide safe and reliable natural gas services to our community. Your safety is our top priority, which is why we offer resources to educate our customers about natural gas meters. Our experienced team is dedicated to meeting your needs and providing top-notch customer service.
NATURAL GAS
SAFETY INFO
METER LEAKS
Natural Gas is odorized by a chemical called Mercaptan which adds a distinctive rotten egg or sulphur like smell to help you detect any leaks.
If you smell gas or hear the flow of escaping gas, please follow these steps immediately:
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Don’t smoke, light matches, operate electrical switches, use appliances/telephones, or create any other source of ignition.
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Leave the building immediately; leaving the door open and any windows that may already be open.
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At a safe distance from the odor, Call the main office at 403-556-3007. If there is no immediate response, please contact our Emergency After Hours contacts as shown on our Contact Us page.
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If it is safe to do so and you feel comfortable enough; turn off the gas supply at your meter.
Foothills Gas offers a $100.00 reward for any reported significant underground leaks that are confirmed by our office. Please report any gas odors to the office
HOW TO TURN OFF YOUR METER?
You can turn your gas off at the main shut-off valve on the inlet pipe next to your gas meter. Using a wrench or another suitable tool, give the valve a quarter turn in either direction so that it is crosswise to the pipe. (see diagram)
RE-VERIFICATION OF
METER SETS
In accordance with Measurement Canada, all natural gas meters must be verified by an accredited meter test shop in compliance with the verification periods as set out in G-18 – Reverification periods for gas meters, ancillary devices, and metering installations.
Please keep the meter free of any debris, as you are responsible for costs associated with damage to metering equipment as well as access to the meter set.
LINE LOCATING
Foothills Gas is a registered member of Utility Safety Partners and DOES NOT accept locate requests unless they are directed through Utility Safety Partners. Any party that damages Gas Co-op facilities will be held financially and legally responsible. Apply for a Line Location before you dig.
HIT GAS LINES
The consequences of hitting and/or severing a line range from a massive bill and temporary loss of service, to injuries and even fatalities. The financial and/or legal burden of repairing the gas line is carried by the excavator.
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STOP ALL WORK & CALL FOOTHILLS GAS at 1-403-556-3007
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Call 911/fire department if there is a danger of fire or any injuries
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Turn off all machinery and eliminate all sources of ignition
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Shut off all vehicle engines
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Remove any sources of ignition and extinguish cigarettes or any open flame
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Avoid contact with any natural gas escaping from the pipeline
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Leave the area on foot and evacuate the area, including buildings. Move people upwind if possible
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Notify people in nearby buildings, as gas might enter through drains if the break or leak is underground or through fresh air intakes and windows if the gas leak is in the air
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Prevent vehicles and bystanders from entering the area. Keep the area clear and secure until a Foothills Gas employee or emergency services arrived
YOU MUST report any line damage, no matter how minor to Foothills Natural Gas Co-op Ltd. Damage includes nicks to the coating on steel pipe and scratches to plastic pipe.
DO NOT attempt to repair the leak or stop escaping gas. Turn electrical switches on or off. Operate any machinery, including vehicles
LINKS
PRESS RELEASE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
Why is the flame on my stove yellow?
A gas flame appearing yellow in color or behaving with pops of yellow indicates an improper ratio of oxygen for combustion. Often this improper combustion is temporary and could be caused by dust particles or a dirty burner that needs cleaning. If the flame continues to burn yellow after cleaning the appliance, this could be a more serious problem and needs to be inspected by a plumber or gasfitter. Incomplete combustion could cause too much carbon monoxide (CO) to be produced so it is imperative for a qualified professional to check. A healthy, properly burning flame on gas appliances should be BLUE in color, sometimes with a tiny tip of yellow, with a little light blue triangle at the center. This blue color flame indicates that there is safe, efficient and more complete fuel combustion. Regardless of whether the appliance is a gas cooktop, furnace, fireplace, etc. you always want to see a blue color flame.
Why do you have to change my gas meter?
In accordance with Measurement Canada, all natural gas meters must be verified & recertified by an accredited meter test shop in compliance with the verification periods as set out in G-18 – Reverification periods for gas meters, ancillary devices and metering installations. Please keep the meter free of any debris, as you are responsible for costs associated with damage of metering equipment as well as access to the meter set.
Does Foothills Gas respond to Carbon Monoxide (CO) concerns/alarms?
Yes, we respond to any concerns or alarms. If you suspect CO or any gas leaks, please open the doors & windows and get everyone (including pets) outside to fresh air immediately. Contact Foothills Gas at 1-403-556-3007
Can I remove or repair my own gas meter?
No, this is considered tampering with your gas meter and tampering is illegal and against the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act. You may be charged additional penalties and/or fines for tampering. For any concerns regarding your gas meter, please contact the office
How do I know if I am smelling Natural Gas?
In its natural state, natural gas is odorless and colorless. To make gas leaks easier to detect, a odorant called Mercaptan is added to create a distinct natural gas smell similar to sulphur or rotting eggs. The stronger the smell is, the more likely it is that you have a gas leak. If you think you can smell natural gas, please contact the office immediately.
What happens if there is a gas outage?
Foothills Gas employees will immediately notify all the affected customers by phone. Repairs will be completed as quickly as possible. Foothills Gas employees will then phone all the affected customers to let them know that gas has been restored and ask them if they need help relighting appliances. If so, we will visit each customer’s property to assist. If we can’t get a hold of you or your emergency contacts, we will visit your property and continue trying to reach you. It’s very important to keep your contact info up to date. Planned outages are rare and when they do occur we use an alternate source of gas supply so that your service will not be affected.
I HIT a GAS LINE, what do I do?
STOP all work! Shut off any machinery/vehicles and eliminate all sources of ignition. Leave the area on foot and evacuate the area. DO NOT attempt to repair the damaged line. Call Foothills Gas at 403-556-3007. If there is a fire or any injuries, call 911 immediately.
How far from the gas line can I dig?
You can dig one (1) meter on either side of low pressure gas lines and five (5) meters on either side of high pressure gas lines. YOU MUST contact Utility Safety Partners, submit a locate request, a have a completed locate ticket before performing any ground disturbance.
Why is the flame on my stove orange?
A gas flame appearing orange in color or behaving with pops of orange indicates too much humidity. Often this is temporary, please turn off all humidifiers and the flame should return to blue. A orange flame is typically not dangerous. A healthy, properly burning flame on gas appliances should be BLUE in color, sometimes with a tiny tip of yellow, with a little light blue triangle at the center. This blue color flame indicates that there is safe, efficient and more complete fuel combustion. Regardless of whether the appliance is a gas cooktop, furnace, fireplace, etc. you always want to see a blue color flame.
I’m doing some digging on my property, who do I contact to have my underground utilities marked?
Please contact Utility Safety Partners to submit a locate request: https://utilitysafety.ca/ or CALL 1-800-242-3447. A Foothills Gas staff member will respond to your locate request within 72 hours or as per the work start date listed on the locate ticket, FREE OF CHARGE
I can smell gas by the meter. Is this normal?
This is not normal, however, on occasion, the regulator may vent causing a gas smell. Any smell of gas, whether inside or out, should be reported immediately. Foothills Gas will send trained personnel to find and verify the leak FREE OF CHARGE
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