December 14, 2022 |
In Saratoga, officials are again expressing their unhappiness with the slow response times to gas leaks from Black Hill Energy. The response from the company is the same as it always has been.
During the December 6th Saratoga Town Council meeting Police Chief Ken Lehr talked about how long it takes Black Hills Energy to respond to gas leaks. Chief Lehr said he and Saratoga Fire Chief Pat Waliser have discussed the problem. People want to see the process sped up.
Photo courtesy Black Hills Energy.
Black Hills Energy supplies the town with natural gas. This isn’t the first time the town council has received complaints about the company’s slow response times. In July of 2021, Black Hills Energy representative Gary Hogan told the council that BHE wasn’t going to endanger its workers to speed up the gas line repair process.
The Saratoga fire department are the first responders to gas leaks. Fire Chief Waliser said his crew will set up a perimeter for safety.
The size of the secure perimeter is determined by the wind and severity of the leak.
The town council said there is a technician from Black Hills Energy stationed in the area. Mayor Creed James said the local tech isn’t able to shut the gas off during an emergency. The Saratoga Fire Department must wait for the gas company to send someone from 40 miles away.
Until Black Hills Energy is able to send a trained person to repair a gas leak, fire fighters are forced to wait. Their job is to keep people away from the site in case of a disaster. The Saratoga Fire Department is made up of volunteers. Mayor James said it’s difficult to convince people to leave their jobs and stand around waiting for a representative from the gas company.
Mayor James said Waliser called Black Hills Energy to address the response times. He was informed that most of the people who attended the July 2021 meeting no longer worked for the company. The mayor suggested they invite the gas company to a future town council meeting.
Councilman Jon Nelson said he’s met with Black Hills Energy twice in the past regarding the slow response times. He requested the town send a letter to the Wyoming Public Service Commission.
The Wyoming Public Service Commission is responsible for regulating public utilities, ensuring they provide reliable service to customers.
