To maintain the ongoing reliability, safety and security of O&R's gas distribution system, O&R has engineered and completed a number of comprehensive projects in recent years:

• A program to replace bare steel and cast iron gas mains, some of which were installed in the early 1900's. Between 1997 and 2002, approximately 500,000 feet of 2-inch bare steel pipe — enough to stretch nearly from Rockland County to Albany — were replaced by corrosion-free plastic pipe. Additionally, a replacement program for larger diameter bare steel pipes followed.
• An upgrade to approximately 11,000 older bare steel service pipes that run from the gas mains to individual buildings with new plastic pipe.

These two efforts alone have had a major impact on reducing the number of gas leaks in O&R's distribution system. While bare steel mains account for only eight percent of O&R's system, approximately 65% of all gas leaks originate in those aging pipes. Besides the improved safety factor, replacement of these mains enhances service reliability.

Any time, 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, a gas leak is reported to O&R, either through Customer Service or through the Gas Emergency Hotline (1-800-533-5325), an expert gas crew is dispatched immediately to the scene.

Public Service Commission Leak Classification Criteria

Our gas crews classify the severity of a leak based on three major criteria under Public Service Commission regulations:

• Proximity to a habitable structure
• Whether the leak is under a paved or unpaved surface
• Percentage of gas-to-air in the sample tested on the site to determine the volume of escaping gas

Class 1

Class 2A

Class 2

Class 3