Energy Connections Newsletter

What to do if you smell natural gas

NorthWestern Energy makes it easy to detect natural gas leaks by adding an unpleasant rotten egg or skunk-like smell to natural gas. If you smell this odor:

• Leave the area immediately.
• Do not use phones, matches, light switches or anything else that could trigger the ignition of the gas.
• When at a safe distance, at least 300 feet away, call 911 and NorthWestern Energy.

Call 811 before inspecting or clearing sewer lines

If you encounter a blockage in a sewer lateral, it could be caused by a natural gas line that was inadvertently drilled or bored through the sewer line in what is known as a “cross bore.” Cutting into a crossbored natural gas line can result in a fire or explosion. Before clearing any blocked sewer lateral, take precautions to determine whether a cross bore exists and use the least invasive equipment possible.

Encourage loved ones to sign up for alerts

Share the love and encourage your friends and family to sign up for NorthWestern Energy alerts. You can set your preferences to be notified when your bill is ready, when payment has been received or when there’s a power outage.

Carbon monoxide safety tip:

Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide alarm installed on every level of your home, especially around sleeping areas, and test your alarms every month.