Virginia Natural Gas Urges Customers to Prioritize Winter Safety Ahead of Major Winter Storm

Company Provides Essential Tips to Ensure Safe and Reliable Natural Gas Service During Severe Weather

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – February 19, 2025 – Virginia Natural Gas (VNG) is urging customers to stay vigilant and prioritize safety as a potentially record-breaking winter storm approaches our service area. Heavy snow and ice can weigh down power lines and tree limbs causing them to fall and potentially damage natural gas meters or expose gas lines. In such cases, it is crucial to immediately leave the area and call our 24-hour emergency response line at 877.572.3342 from a safe location.

Key Winter Safety Tips:

• Keep Meters Clear: Ensure that natural gas meters are free from snow, ice and debris. Use a broom to gently move snow away from the meter; avoid using shovels or snow blowers to prevent damage.
• Check Vent Openings: Regularly inspect outdoor vent openings and air intakes to ensure they are not obstructed by snow, ice or other debris. This is essential for the proper functioning of appliances.
• Proper Use of Appliances: Never use natural gas appliances such as burners on a stove or ovens to heat your home or business. This can be dangerous and is not recommended.
• High-Efficiency Appliances: If you have high-efficiency furnaces, power-vented water heaters or other natural gas appliances that vent out the side of your home, keep the vent pipe clear of ice and snow.
• Safe Snow Removal: Exercise caution when removing snow or ice from your natural gas vent or meter assembly. Use your hands or a broom, not a shovel, to brush away snow or ice. Shovels and other tools can damage the equipment.
• Avoid Impact: Never kick or hit your gas meter or its piping with a hammer or any hard object to break away built-up snow or ice. This can cause damage and create safety hazards.
• Prevent Refreezing: Remove hanging icicles to prevent dripping water from refreezing on your meter or vent.
• Avoid Snow Accumulation: Never shovel snow up against your meter or vent or let excessive snow cover it.

By following these safety tips, customers can help ensure the safe and reliable operation of their natural gas service throughout the winter season. For more information and additional safety tips, visit virginianaturalgas.com/safety or contact our customer service team.

About Virginia Natural Gas
Virginia Natural Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies under Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Serving over 310,000 customers in southeast Virginia, Virginia Natural Gas was again named a Top Workplace in 2024. The company has earned recognition for its safety, reliability and customer focus among natural gas service providers, and was named 2024 LDC of the Year by the VA Dept of Energy and VA Oil & Gas Association. For more information, visit virginianaturalgas.com and connect with the company on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.2 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and approximately 600,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com.

Media Contact:
Morgan Chase
Office: 757-616-7510  | Cell: 757-725-6916
mchase@southernco.com | virginianaturalgas.com/news/press-releases.html