MOUNTAIN HOME, AR – Dec. 24, 2022 – With 30 technicians and team members working tirelessly as safely and quickly as possible to restore gas service to customers in Mountain Home, Black Hills Energy made considerable progress. By 12:40 a.m. Dec. 24, the company restored gas service to 211 customers, approximately 65% of customers who had lost service.
Work to restore service to the remaining customers will continue today. Technicians began working to relight residential customers’ homes early this morning. At the current rate of progress, Black Hills Energy estimates that nearly all customers will have gas service restored by this afternoon.
Local Black Hills Energy employees were joined by technicians from across Arkansas with support from Kansas in their effort to restore service as quickly as possible. Despite challenging circumstances, and significant travel by many to reach Mountain Home, the assembled crew has been aligned in their commitment to bring natural gas back online for every impacted customer.
While projections of completing nearly all relights Saturday, Dec. 24 are based on progress thus far, many factors could impact completion of the task, including complications from weather or difficulty connecting with customers, which is necessary in order to enter a residence to relight and test appliances.
At locations awaiting to have natural gas service restored, technicians will have placed a yellow flag in the customer’s yard. This yellow flag will be removed from the yard after a technician restores service. At locations where no one is home, a tag will also be left on the door notifying the customer that the natural gas has been shut off. The tag includes instructions to call the company for service restoration. Additionally, someone over 18 years of age is required to be present during the relighting process.
Because of low temperatures, Mountain Home residents are encouraged to contact neighbors who may be out of town. Please advise them to call Black Hills Energy’s customer service so a technician can check their home or building to ensure they have service. A home or building without heat is at risk for frozen water pipes.
For updates on service restoration efforts, customers can visit blackhillsenergy.com/mountain-home, check our social media channels or call us at 888-890-5554.
Please remember the following safety tips:
- Be alert for leaking natural gas. If you smell natural gas, leave the building or area immediately and tell others to leave, too.
- After you’re safely away from the area, call 911 and our emergency number at 888-890-5554. Never assume someone else has reported a natural gas leak. Alert your neighbors.
- Do not turn on lights, ignite a flame, use a cellphone or use anything that might cause a spark, including a flashlight or a generator while inside your home or any building.
- Never attempt to repair a natural gas leak, and do not attempt to turn natural gas valves on or off.
