PIKEVILLE, Ky. — A new statement from the company responsible for transmitting natural gas to customers who suddenly lost service this week says the decision was made due to safety.
About 100 customers of Kentucky Frontier Gas in the Hurricane and Robinson Creek areas of Pike County saw their gas turned off without notice Wednesday.
A statement released Friday by the Kinzer Companies, which transmits gas on behalf of Kentucky Frontier, says the decision to shutter the lines was made after routine inspections revealed “serious leaks” in residential areas.
Furthermore, the company says additional evaluation of the lines shows they are beyond repair.
”It has since been determined that these lines have generally deteriorated to the point that they cannot be made serviceable,” the statement says. “Kinzer believes Kentucky Frontier Gas may be exploring other means to supply gas to its customers. However, based on the information that is now available, Kinzer encourages people who have utilized natural gas along these routes to convert to other sources of energy.”
The company’s full statement is reprinted below:
The Kinzer Companies believe there is nothing more important than the safety of the customers we serve and the communities in which we operate. Therefore, as part of our ongoing commitment to ensure the integrity of the gas lines which serve our neighbors, Kinzer performs ongoing safety inspections.
This past week, an evaluation was performed of the gas lines which are used to transmit gas on behalf of Ky Frontier Gas for service of its’ customers on Robinson Creek and Hurricane Creek. It was discovered that these lines have developed serious leaks in populated areas. While we sincerely regretted the inconvenience to the customers of Ky Frontier Gas, as a result ofthis imminent threat to public safety, Kinzer was forced to immediately discontinue gas flow through these lines as a result of this imminent threat to public safety.
It has since been determined that these lines have generally deteriorated to the point that they cannot be made serviceable. Kinzer believes Ky Frontier Gas may be exploring other means to supply gas to its’ customers. However, based on the information that is now available, Kinzer encourages people who have utilized natural gas along these routes to convert to other sources of energy.