CONTACT:                                                                           APRIL 19, 2011

Barbara Uebelacker
Communications Specialist
(866) 752-4550 - office

(608) 295-8063
BarbU@rock.coop

Gas technicians Jason Mayer, left, and Robby Jones use a remote methane leak detector in the co‐op’s annual natural gas survey.

Rock Energy’s Annual Survey Hunts for Natural Gas Leaks

SOUTH BELOIT, Ill.—In the next three weeks, Rock Energy Cooperative natural gas technicians will be surveying all 173 miles of the co‐op’s gas mains to hunt for any leaks.

Armed with a remote methane leak detector, the technicians will travel area roads and streets in a slow-moving utility vehicle to ensure the safety and reliability of natural gas service to its members. The state-of‐the‐art detector has a range of 100 feet and sounds an alarm when any methane—the primary
component of natural gas—is detected.

The technicians will begin the annual survey at the co‐op’s South Beloit facility on Willowbrook Road, traveling in a counterclockwise direction through the South Beloit and Rockton areas and then on to Roscoe Township. That portion of the survey is expected to start this week and last about two weeks. From there, the crew will head to Lake Summerset area.

“This is a very efficient and effective way to detect any natural gas leaks along the road right‐of‐way and street openings, like manholes and pavement cracks,” said Randy Gant, natural gas superintendent for Rock Energy. “If any leaks are detected, the technicians will classify them based on their severity and crews will be dispatched to remedy the situations.”

Gant also urged community residents to be aware of the signs of natural gas leaks and report anything they believe is suspicious by calling the co‐op at (866) 752‐4550. Leaks can be recognized:

• By smell: Natural gas is colorless and odorless, but gas providers add a chemical that makes it smell like rotten eggs so any leaks can be easily detected.
• By sound: A hissing or roaring sound coming from a natural gas line might be a sign of a leak.
• By sight: If you see unexplained dead or dying grass in an area, natural gas might be leaking. Dirt or debris blowing in the air and water bubbling in a puddle, pond, or creek are other signs of leaks.

“Natural gas is one of the safest and most reliable forms of energy,” Gant said. “Leak detection surveys like this one help Rock Energy maintain its excellent safety record.”

Established in 1936, Rock Energy Cooperative is a not‐for‐profit utility distributing safe and reliable electricity and natural gas to more than 27,000 meters across its nine‐county service area in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Headquartered in Janesville, Wis., the cooperative also has an office in South Beloit, Ill. For more information, visit www.rock.coop.

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