PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Black Hills Energy Making Upgrades Moving Meters from High-Risk Areas
McCook, Nebraska, March 7, 2024 -You and your family need and deserve safe, reliable natural gas service, and Black Hills Energy is always looking ahead to make sure we deliver. That’s why we’re proactively updating natural gas meters in your area.
Beginning in March, you may see us in your neighborhood alleyways. Black Hills Energy will be performing an upgrade that will consist of the replacement of approximately 529 residential and commercial meters that serve customers in and around McCook.
Locating gas meters at or near the structure has become the industry standard which eliminates or significantly reduces the risk of them being hit and broken by vehicles. It also alleviates future interruptions to gas service during routine maintenance.
“This upgrade will allow Black Hills Energy to meet our customers’ current and future energy needs and maintain our industry-leading reliability far into the future,” said Justin Gould, senior operations manager for Black Hills Energy. “We understand updating natural gas service can impact our neighbors’ lives and businesses and we will work to minimize disruptions and restore our work area to its original state.”
During the upgrade, affected customers will be without natural gas for a short time. Customers will be notified by Black Hills Energy’s contractor, J & G Dirtworks, prior to any work being done and should expect to have natural gas service restored the same day. Scheduled work will require the contractor to access the homes or businesses at an arranged time to relocate the meter, perform a safety inspection and relight pilot lights when work is completed. J & G Dirtworks employees will have identification, logoed hard hats, and company branded vehicles.
As with any construction activity, there will be excavation in the location where the gas service enters the residence as well as some excavation where the service line connects to the gas main. This is typically out by the street or alley. The contractor will have a restoration crew following behind them to restore any excavation areas including landscaping or paving.
Traffic flow is not expected to be impacted by this construction project, but you will likely see our signage in the area to notify drivers of the work and asking drivers to take necessary precautions as they travel through the area. The work is currently scheduled to begin on March 11.
We appreciate your cooperation and patience as we deliver an advanced, modern gas system that will safely and reliably serve you and generations of Nebraskans to come.
About Black Hills Energy:
Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) is a customer focused, growth-oriented utility company with a tradition of improving life with energy and a vision to be the energy partner of choice. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, the company serves 1.28 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. More information is available at www.blackhillscorp.com and www.blackhillsenergy.com.
Media Contact: Stephanie King 308.379.2425 stephanie.king@blackhillscorp.com
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