Many Central Texans Without Gas In Extreme Cold, Atmos Asks Customers To Conserve

AUSTIN (KXAN) – In the middle extremely low temperaturesseveral Central Texas natural gas customers reported low or no gas pressure Friday morning.

Atmos Energy has also issued a conservation alert.

Several people in the KXAN viewing area emails submitted signaling that they are experiencing low or no gas pressure, leaving them without heat or other necessities in their home.

“The ATMOS gas is currently experiencing a ‘blackout’ and it appears to be covering a wide area. Gas line pressure is insufficient for most furnace heaters and therefore not working,” one person wrote. So while the gas is on for stoves, it will not work for pressure sensitive heaters. No idea of ​​actual wait times, but was put on hold for over 70 minutes on ATMOS emergency line with no answer.

City of Leander opens warming center for Atmos customers without gas

atmosphere tweeted On Friday mornings his customer service line is closed for the day and on Mondays due to the holidays. The tweet also stated that if customers smell gas, they should leave the area and call 911 and Atmos’ 24/7 emergency line at (866) 322-8667. On Friday afternoon, the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates oil and gas in the state, said the Atmos call center was open and had more help responding to customers.

KXAN reached out to Atmos Friday morning to ask about reports of a gas service outage in the Austin-Round Rock area. The company responded by asking customers to consult due to extreme temperatures and high natural gas consumption, but did not specifically address reports of the outage.

An Atmos spokesperson also said the company is experiencing high call volume and there may be significant wait time for customers to speak with an agent.

Atmos said if it’s not an emergency, or if you’re calling about the status of a previous order, it’s “working as quickly as possible to get a service technician to their home.” .

If it’s an emergency, stay on hold to speak to an agent.

Le, said he was “aware of some localized low pressure issues due to extremely high demand in areas served by Atmos Energy, Mid-Tex Division.”

The Railroad Commission said Atmos is working to increase pressure on the system and respond to customers.

Atmos Mid-Tex has reported that there are no gas supply issues in the system at this time. The Commission remains in close communication with Atmos and will provide updates as we receive them,” he wrote.

NBC 5 in East Dallas also reports a conservation alert and a plainview newspaper said Atmos staff are investigating the outages in the area on Thursday.

Natural Gas Statewide

Texas gas pipelines “are reporting good pressure and plenty of storage even with some production declines,” the Texas Oil and Gas Association said in a statement Friday morning. TXOGA is the state trade association for the industry.

He added that he expected production drops and that has happened, but there are no major issues. A few power issues are “resolved quickly” and he notified the Public Utilities Commission and the Texas Electrical Reliability Board. He noted in 2022, all aspects of the natural gas process in Texas prepared for increased production and storage, and has taken many steps to further weatherize.

How to store gas

Atmos Energy shared the following tips:

• Do not use your natural gas fireplace.
• Lower your thermostat to at least 68 degrees. Consider wearing extra layers of clothing and lowering the thermostat further.
• Businesses should minimize their energy consumption as much as possible.
• Lower the temperature of the water heater to 120 degrees, as this can represent up to 25% of the energy consumed in your home.
• Unplug electronics and turn off lights that are not in use. By saving electricity, you also help save the natural gas that keeps the power going.
• Reduce shower time and avoid baths. The shower accounts for approximately 40% of your home’s hot water consumption.
• Avoid using large appliances like your washer, dryer, oven, and dishwasher for the next few days. When in use, limit the opening of the oven door to avoid wasting energy.
• If you have a swimming pool, do not use the pool heater. Instead, run your pool pump during the coldest part of the day to circulate the water and prevent freezing.