Because natural gas is colorless and odorless, a "rotten egg" odor is added to the pipeline system to make leaks detectable by smell.

If you think you smell a faint odor of natural gas:

• Investigate. Make sure your range burners are turned off. If your gas appliance has a pilot light, check to make sure it's on. If not, you'll have to relight the pilot. If you're not sure how, check the owner's manual.
• If you cannot quickly find the source of the smell, call your gas utility immediately. Orange & Rockland and PCL&P customers should call the Gas Emergency Hotline at 1-800-533-5325, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If the gas odor is strong, or if you hear a hissing noise:

• Act quickly. Get everyone out of the house at once, leaving the doors and windows open.
• On your way out, don't use anything that could generate a spark, such as a light switch, telephone, cell phone or car ignition.
• Use a nearby phone to call Orange & Rockland's or PCL&P's Gas Emergency Hotline at 1-800-533-5325.
• Stay outside until an on-site O&R representative tells you it's safe to go back in.