Fayetteville, Ark. – February 18, 2021 With more than 80 technicians working tirelessly to restore gas service to customers in the City of Pea Ridge, Black Hills Energy made considerable progress towards relighting approximately 2,300 customers. By midnight on Wednesday, the company restored gas service to more than 2,000 customers, nearly 90 percent of customers who had lost service.

Work to restore remaining customers will continue today, with technicians working to relight residential customers beginning this morning. At the current rate of progress, Black Hills Energy estimates that nearly all customers will have gas service restored today.

Local Black Hills Energy employees were joined by technicians from across Arkansas, and surrounding states in their effort to restore service as quickly as possible. Despite challenging weather, frigid temperatures, and significant travel by many to reach Pea Ridge 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 Thursday are based on progress thus far, many factors could impact completion of the task, including complications from weather or difficulty connecting with customers in order to enter a residence to relight and test appliances.

Customers can find additional information on the Black Hills Energy website at www.blackhillsenergy.com/pea-ridge

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 cell phone or use anything that might cause a spark, including a flashlight or a generator.
• Never attempt to repair a natural gas leak, and do not attempt to turn natural gas valves on or off.