We’ll be by to make sure your natural gas equipment is operating safely and properly.

Natural gas is one of the safest, most reliable and environmentally friendly fuels used today. To make sure the natural gas meter and piping serving your home continues operating safely, we perform routine maintenance that requires brief access to your property. We work hard to minimize any inconvenience to you or impact on your property when performing the maintenance. Here’s what you may see us doing:

	Leak Survey All of Avista’s over 11,000 miles of underground natural gas pipelines are periodically walked in a leak survey. Our inspectors search for leaks using highly sensitive equipment that has the ability to detect natural gas leaks at levels far below those you can smell. If any leaks are found, they are documented and the necessary repairs are made.
	Atmospheric Corrosion and Safety Inspection Atmospheric corrosion is the steady, gradual deterioration of the exposed surface of a natural gas meter and piping. These inspections occur on a three-year cycle. If a meter needs painting, we’ll usually paint it at the time of inspection. We’ll also conduct other safety inspections at this time.
	Cathodic Protection Buried steel pipelines are monitored to assure that adequate cathodic protection measures are in place so that piping does not deteriorate. To assure that appropriate protection is in place, readings are taken with the instruments shown.
	Periodic Meter Sampling Program A statistical sample of natural gas meters in use for 10 year or longer are routinely removed from service and tested to assure that they are accurately recording usage. If your meter is changed out, you may have an interruption of your natural gas service. If this happens, you will be contacted by an Avista employee or contractor to arrange a convenient time to relight your appliance. To ensure your safety, do not attempt to relight your natural gas equipment yourself.

Keeping you safe

While these tests are taking place, you may spot one of our employees or contractors on your property. For easy identification, they wear an Avista safety vest and a name badge. They will also be either driving an Avista vehicle or a vehicle with a door magnet indicating they are an Avista contractor. Whether an Avista employee or contractor inspects your natural gas meter or piping, they should be willing to identify themselves, explain what they are doing and provide you with identification if requested.

Access to your home is usually not needed to perform maintenance for most natural gas meter or piping inspections. However, it may be necessary to relight the natural gas appliances in your home if your meter is changed out. If this happens, our employee or contractor will contact you to arrange a convenient time to relight your appliance. To ensure your safety, do not attempt to relight your natural gas equipment yourself.