In recognition of Natural Gas Utility Workers' Day on March 18, we'd like to take a moment to honor our employees who work hard each day to provide safe and reliable natural gas services to our community. Our natural gas employees' far-reaching responsibilities include the operation and maintenance of five gate stations (where natural gas enters our system), approximately 2,700 miles of distribution pipe and about 170,000 service lines.
We are particularly proud to highlight our natural gas employees' in-house skills, extensive training and commitment to safety. The value of these traits was recently highlighted after a major natural gas project was completed underneath Kettle Creek, located in northeastern Colorado Springs. Thanks to the in-house expertise of our natural gas employees, they saved customers more than $5 million.
According to the American Public Gas Association (APGA), the decision to hold this annual recognition every March 18 was made for good reason. March 18 is the date of a New London, Texas school incident in 1937 that led to the widespread odorization of natural gas and an increased emphasis on safety. Safety is a vital aspect to natural gas distribution, and the employees of distribution companies endeavor to make natural gas delivery as safe as possible.
Thank you to all of our natural gas workers for everything they do, not just on March 18, but every day, to keep our community safe and warm.
