Temporary source of gas headed to Whittier amid outage prompted by pipeline repairs
Residents of Whittier, who have been without natural gas since ENSTAR shut off supplies earlier this week, could be reconnected starting as early as Friday night.
The utility shut off natural gas supplies to Whittier on Aug. 16 after the deterioration of a submerged, leaking pipeline that serves the city of about 250 people.
ENSTAR had initially warned residents to expect the outage to last until Sept. 5 or until the pipeline is repaired, but said in an update Friday that an ISO container carrying LNG and a vaporizer trailer had crossed into Alaska from Canada en route to Portage. The utility could begin reconnecting customers as early as Friday night if equipment staging and preparation go as planned, according to the notice.
The utility said that the system serving Whittier has to be reenergized before gas meters can be turned back on. ENSTAR will then contact residents as technicians become available to turn gas meters on and relight natural gas appliances.
“The reconnection process will continue around the clock until completion,” ENSTAR said in the notice.
The utility warned residents not to attempt to unlock natural gas meters or relight their own appliances.
In its own notice posted Friday, the City of Whittier shared that a shower trailer has been hooked up outside the Public Safety Building. Residents needing a hot shower can visit the Whittier Harbor Office for a free shower token.
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