February 2015
Anchorage • (907) 277-5551 Kenai Peninsula • (907) 262-9334
Mat-Su • (907) 376-7979
Toll-Free • (877) 907-9767
P.O. Box 190288, Anchorage, Alaska 99519-0288
www.enstarnaturalgas.com
ENSTAR
is on Facebook!
ENSTAR: More than your meter.
When most people think of ENSTAR, they think of rest of the body. ENSTAR’s two main types of pipe,
the meter that sits outside their house. They may or arteries, are transmission and distribution.
even think of the underground service line in their Transmission Pipe:
yard.
ENSTAR owns and operates over 450 miles of
But ENSTAR is much more than just a meter.
transmission pipe. This is the largest pipe in
ENSTAR is a natural gas distribution company.
ENSTAR’s system with some of it as large as
This means a major part of ENSTAR’s business is
20-inches in diameter – about the size of a
the construction and operation of thousands of
basketball hoop’s rim. The pressure in
miles of pipe. This pipeline system moves natural transmission pipe can reach 1,480 pounds per
gas from Cook Inlet to local electrical utilities that square inch (psi). For perspective, the tire
use it to generate power, and to local businesses
pressure in cars and trucks usually ranges from
and residential homes for space heating, water
30 – 45 psi.
heating, and cooking appliances.
A great way to think of ENSTAR’s transmission and
distribution pipelines is by comparing them to
arteries in a human body. These pipelines move
gas from the Cook Inlet gas fields to customers
just like arteries move blood from the heart to the
Distribution Pipe:
Smaller than transmission lines, the diameter of
distribution pipe ranges anywhere from 2 to 12
inches. Like the name suggests, distribution piping
takes gas from the transmission lines and
“distributes” it through the
cities and neighborhoods to
service lines. ENSTAR has
built and maintains over
3,000 miles of distribution
pipe throughout its pipeline
system. In 2014 alone,
ENSTAR added almost 80
miles to the system.
Much like the arteries in the
human body, ENSTAR’s
pipeline system is intricate,
and specifically designed to
provide safe and reliable
operations.
What To Do
If There Is A Major
Know the location of all utility shut-off
valves (gas, water and main electric circuit
breaker).
Have an 8” - 12” or larger adjustable wrench
available to turn off the gas at the meter, if
needed.
In the event of an earthquake, DO NOT shut
off the gas unless there is a distinct odor of
gas or you can hear the sound of escaping gas.
If you or others smell gas, turn off the main
gas shut-off valve by turning the valve ¼ turn
to the right. The shut-off valve is the first
fitting on the pipe coming out of the ground
near your meter.
Do not smoke, use matches, candles, electric
switches or other appliances (including your
phone) until you are sure there is no gas leak.
Once the gas valve is shut off:
Go to a neighbor or other safe place and
call ENSTAR at 277-5551 or 911.
DO NOT attempt to re-light any gas
appliances: furnace, hot water heater, etc.
Only ENSTAR or their designated agents are
permitted to restore natural gas service.
For more information, or for first aid and
emergency response training, contact your
municipality or go to www.ready.gov.
Municipality of Anchorage
Office of Emergency Management
Phone: (907) 343-1401
Web: www.muni.org/oem
Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Department of Emergency Services
Phone: (907) 861-8000
Web: www.matsugov.us/des
Kenai Peninsula Borough
Office of Emergency Management
Phone: (907) 262-2096
Web:
www.borough.kenai.ak.us/emergency-mgmt/
Have a Plan
When an emergency strikes you may be without gas,
power or other common utilities. In some cases, you
may be forced to leave your home and have only
enough time to gather the family and an emergency
kit. This kit should contain the necessary items to
sustain life for the first critical hours/days following a
disaster. It should be portable for anyone to carry,
including a child.
The kit should include: food with a long shelf life
(cereal or energy bars), shelter options (a tarp or
pop-up tent), bottled water, sanitation items, heat and
light sources, communications equipment (radio),
and miscellaneous items like batteries and critical
medicines.
In advance of an emergency, make sure to
communicate, practice an evacuation plan, and
designate a meeting spot should family members
become separated. Learn which natural disasters,
hazards, or other threats are common to your area
from your borough or city websites.