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NATURAL GAS

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Background

 

Decatur Utilities (DU) has provided natural gas as an energy choice to Decatur residents since the early 1950s. Natural gas is a safe, efficient energy choice - perfect for heating homes, heating water, cooking and fueling business processes. DU purchases natural gas from Southern Natural Gas. Wholesale natural gas rates are currently at historic lows - and DU passes those savings on to its customers in the form of low retail rates.

APGA SOAR Award 

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In 2018 and 2022, DU's Natural Gas Department received the Alabama Public Gas Association's (APGA) SOAR Bronze Award for System Operations and Reliability. 

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Out of approximately 750 APGA members, DU was selected by the APGA Operations and Safety Committee based on a review and grading of DU's natural gas policies and procedures. The award reflects DU’s demonstration of excellence in system integrity, system improvement, employee safety, and workforce development.

 

  • System integrity refers to the natural gas distribution system performing its overall intended function safely, efficiently and effectively.

  • System improvement refers to keeping the natural gas system well maintained and up-to-date. 

  • Employee safety refers to systems that exhibit excellence in programs that stress educational involvement and accountability.

  • Workforce development refers to a focus on creative recruitment, training, education and development practices.

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Download our
Pipeline Awareness
Safety Brochure HERE 

Reading Your Meter

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Your​ natural gas meter is a tool for measuring the amount of natural gas you use in any given month. This measurement is made in cubic feet. There are four dials. Each dial represents a single number in the reading.  

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  • Reading a natural gas meter

    • Do NOT touch the meter while reading it.

    • Read the dials from left to right.

    • Read the numbers as indicated by the hands on the dials.

      • If a hand is between two numbers, read the smaller number (unless when the hand is between the 0 and 9, in which case, you record the number nine.

    • Subtract the current reading from the previous month's reading to determine usage.

    • This reading is 9067.

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Service Line Responsibility​

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Natural Gas Benefits

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  • Low Cost

    • Natural gas costs are typically far lower than propane or electricity.

  • Convenience

    • Delivery of natural gas is not as susceptible to weather issues, traffic problems or vehicle incidents.

    • Natural gas is still available when electric service is interrupted by a storm or mechanical failure.

    • Natural gas provides instant heat and a more consistent temperature for cooking.

    • Clothes dry faster with natural gas heat.

  • Improved Comfort

    • Natural gas water heaters recover twice as fast as electric water heaters.

    • Natural gas furnaces can be up to 97% efficient and deliver heat up to 25 degrees warmer than electric heat pumps.

    • Natural gas furnaces never call on auxiliary "strip" heat.

    • Natural gas provides "instant" heat you can feel.

  • Proven Safety

    • Natural gas is lighter than air and will quickly disperse into the surrounding atmosphere.

    • DU adds a distinctive rotten egg smell to help with identification.

    • DU surveys its natural gas lines on a regular basis to identify and repair any leaks.

    • DU has aggressively replaced all cast iron piping on its natural gas system.

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Natural Gas Incentives

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See incentives and rebates here.

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Natural Gas Safety

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Energy Efficiency

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  • DU's energy efficiency tips can be found here.

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Other Information

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