AUB READY TO DELIVER
NATURAL GAS TO CALHOUN

ATHENS, Tenn. - On Labor Day, Monday, September 3, the Athens Utilities Board (AUB) Natural Gas Division will be in Calhoun to fill newly laid gas lines with natural gas. This event, called “purging and charging” is the final step necessary to provide Calhoun with natural gas service, beginning with the city's elementary school.

“Once this step is complete, it’s tap time in Calhoun, Tennessee. The lines will be available for service taps and use by residential, commercial and industrial customers,” said AUB spokesman Wayne Scarbrough. “We’ve worked closely with Calhoun officials throughout this project and have had great support from them and very high interest from the people of Calhoun. There are a lot of folks there who want quality natural gas service and we are happy to be able to provide it,” he said.

The Labor Day work will take place at Calhoun’s elementary school, which will be the first AUB natural gas customer in that city. “Except for an air purge point at the school, the seven miles of line between our Riceville gate station and Calhoun is in the ground and sealed with no possible escape points,” Scarbrough said.

To ensure safety and the integrity of the distribution line, the entire span between Riceville and Calhoun has been pressure tested to 200% of its design tolerance. On an everyday basis the line will operate at about 50% of its design tolerance, according to AUB.

Natural gas has no odor. AUB adds an odorant to make it easily detectable to homeowners and other users. Therefore, residents in the area of the school will likely smell the gas while the line charge is under way, Scarbrough said. “That’s normal for this phase of work and is to be expected. It smells a little like rotten eggs, purposely, so that leaks are quickly detected. Natural gas is lighter than air, so the vapor will quickly dissipate, but there will be some odor in the work area until the final seal is made,” Scarbrough explained.

The Labor Day work in Calhoun is weather dependent. Anyone with questions about natural gas safety or service should call AUB at (423) 745-4501.