| Q. | Why does this inspection need to be done? |
| A. | Federal regulations require natural gas utilities to inspect company-owned above ground and inside piping and meters. CenterPoint Energy owns the natural gas meter and the piping that comes into it. Customers own the piping that runs from the meter to their natural gas appliances and it is the customer’s responsibility to maintain this piping. |
| Q. | What does the inspection involve? |
| A. | An authorized CenterPoint Energy contractor, will inspect CenterPoint Energy’s inside natural gas piping and meter, in addition to performing a gas leak check of the equipment. The entire process usually takes less than 10 minutes. |
| Q. | How will customers identify a contract employee? |
| A. | All contract employees will be wearing a CenterPoint Energy cap and a lime green safety vest with a clearly visible CenterPoint Energy logo. In addition, every contractor performing the inspections are required to carry a CenterPoint Energy contractor identification card that includes the employee’s picture. If the person visiting a home or business has no CenterPoint Energy identification, customers SHOULD NOT allow him or her into their home or business. |
| Q. | What happens if the inspection identifies a problem? |
| A. | If the inspector discovers a natural gas leak, CenterPoint Energy will repair the leak the same day. If our equipment needs maintenance repairs, CenterPoint Energy will call customers to arrange a time for a technician to make the repair, usually in two or three weeks. |
| Q. | Will customers be charged for the inspection or any work associated with it? |
| A. | No. There is no charge for the inspection or repair work provided the repairs are made on the meter or piping that CenterPoint Energy owns. Repairs on natural gas piping that runs from the meter to appliances are the customer’s responsibility. |
| Q. | Can a meter be moved outside? |
| A. | Relocating a meter is not necessarily part of this work. Any necessary repair work will be done on CenterPoint Energy’s natural gas piping and gas meter in its existing location. There is a fee to relocate a meter. If a customer would like the meter moved to a new outside location, they may call CenterPoint Energy at 612-342-5123 or 1-800-342-4166. |
| Q. | How many homes or businesses are being inspected? |
| A. | CenterPoint Energy has about 145,000 customers on its service lines with inside natural gas meters. All of these will be inspected during the next three years as required under federal regulations. |
| Q. | If a customer needs to reschedule or schedule an appointment, or if they have questions, whom do they call? |
| A. | To reschedule or schedule an inspection appointment, please call CenterPoint Energy at 1-877-737-2601 between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. Other questions related to this work may asked by calling CenterPoint Energy at 612-399-1448. |
| Q. | How often does CenterPoint Energy perform this inspection? |
| A. | CenterPoint Energy is meeting a compliance requirement, which calls for ongoing inspections every three years. |
