Michigan Gas customers dealing with gas leaks
By Heather Pollauf |
Posted: Wed 11:04 PM, Jun 08, 2016 |
Updated: Thu 12:07 AM, Jun 09, 2016
TEMPERANCE, Mich. (13abc Action News) - Michigan Gas reported Wednesday that nearly 100 customers in Temperance and Lambertville thought they were experiencing gas leaks since Tuesday.
According to a company spokesperson, residents in southern Monroe County started noticing odors of natural gas around 6:00PM Tuesday. The spokesperson said that's when the calls started coming in.
According to a company spokesperson, a piece of equipment that injects odor into the natural gas malfunctioned, and began injected random amounts of odor.
The extra odor alarmed residents, prompting them to call the company to report a leak. So far, according to that spokesperson, no leaks have been detected. However, since nearly 100 customers called in for leaks, technicians have to investigate each call. Some residents were still without service as of Wednesday night.
One viewer contacted 13abc and said a technician told him the issue covered an area near Jackman at Dean Rd, to the intersection of Smith and Lewis. A Michigan Gas spokesperson said calls were also coming from residents on King Road in Temperance.
The company says that everyone who called in a leak was evacuated, as per protocol. Technicians have been out working to investigate leaks, and that spokesperson says that technicians are now in the process of turning service back on.
According to the company, customers who called in leaks were also asked to avoid using electricity and starting their cars, due to the risk of explosion. No injuries or illnesses related to the leaks were reported.
The company says the large amount of calls forced the company to pull employees from around the state to help respond to the Temperance/Lambert area, and they will work 24 around the clock until everyone has service. The piece of equipment was fixed Wednesday afternoon, but there's no word on when service will be back to normal for everyone.