Customer Center

As part of our commitment to provide our customers safe and reliable service, our crews and contractors may be in your neighborhood for several weeks extending or replacing natural gas mains and services (pipes).

This section of our Web site provides helpful information on what you can expect while we're working in your neighborhood.

Under Construction
During the construction, you'll see NJNG crews and contractors:

• Marking underground utility lines
• Operating heavy equipment and storing materials
• Installing and/or replacing mains and services
• Restoring the area after work is completed

Marking Underground Utility Lines
State law requires that underground utility lines and facilities in your neighborhood and possibly on your property must be marked prior to digging. Adequately marking underground facilities helps to avoid damage during construction. Here's what you can expect:

• The location of underground utility lines will be marked with color-coded spray paint or flags so that when construction begins, NJNG crews and contractors know where underground lines for electric, gas, cable TV, phones, water and sewer are located. Any alteration or removal of markings is prohibited until all work is completed.
• The depth and location of underground lines will be verified by digging small holes to help ensure the lines are not impacted or damaged during construction.
• Occasionally, utility lines are marked inadequately or incorrectly, which can cause damage during construction. If underground utility lines are damaged by work in progress, you will be notified, and repairs will be made quickly.

Since private underground facilities (sprinkler systems, invisible fencing, low-voltage lighting, etc.) are not covered by the state-mandated markout, any information that you can provide to us regarding their location on your property will minimize damage and repair work. Call our construction desk or speak directly with the crew leader or NJNG inspector on-site in your neighborhood to provide this information.

Operating Heavy Equipment and Storing Materials
Pipeline construction requires the use of heavy equipment and construction materials. We will make every effort to minimize possible inconveniences to our customers and neighbors. You can expect to see:

• Tractors and backhoes in your neighborhood for the duration of construction.
• Materials such as pipe, straw, sand and safety equipment.
• Equipment or other material parked in a safe area in your community.
• Short-term traffic disruptions, detours or parking restrictions.

Installing and/or Replacing Mains and Services
During construction, NJNG will dig trenches and install natural gas mains and services in your area. Here's what to expect:

• Gas mains may be installed off the road in a municipal right of way* in front of your house. This is necessary in order to bring or improve natural gas service to you and your neighbors.
• We will make every effort to notify you if equipment will be left in front of your home overnight while a gas main is being installed.
• While construction is in progress, NJNG or contractors may dig holes and leave them open during the day for connections and safety testing. All trenches and holes will be clearly marked with orange cones and/or safety fencing.
• If you decide in the future to convert to natural gas, additional construction will be necessary to install a service line from the gas main to your home.
• If your gas service has been interrupted during construction, please contact NJNG at 1-800-221-0051. We will promptly restore service and relight your appliances.

* A strip of land, typically 10 feet from the curb or road, set aside by the municipality for the construction and operation of utilities.

Restoring Your Neighborhood
During construction, there's a chance that digging or heavy equipment may disturb your property. We will do our best to minimize disturbances and restore affected areas after construction is completed. Here's what to expect:

• 
• NJNG will remove all equipment and materials.
  
• NJNG will restore all lawn and garden areas affected by the installation of gas mains and services. Seeding as necessary is part of the restoration process -- please remember that it will take some time and water for the grass to grow.
  
• Temporary lawn restoration may be required depending on weather conditions. For example, in the winter grass may not grow, so we'll return in the spring to reseed.
• Temporary paving and sidewalk restoration may be necessary to allow for possible ground settlement. Sidewalks (concrete) and paving, for example, will be permanently restored within four to six weeks.

Additional Information

• The work in your neighborhood is necessary to either provide natural gas service or improve existing facilities in a safe and timely fashion.
• All NJNG personnel and contractors working in your neighborhood are trained and certified.
• Don't hesitate to talk to the construction crews on-site. Often, the crew leader can provide details, such as where the pipe will be installed or when construction is expected to be completed.
• If our work involves installing new gas mains to bring natural gas to your neighborhood, it's an excellent time to convert. See our special conversion section to learn more about converting your home to natural gas or contact our marketing department at 1-800-221-0051, and press 3 for NJNG.
  
• If you decide in the future to convert to natural gas, please keep in mind that NJNG will perform additional construction to install a service line from the gas main to your home.

If you have questions about work in your neighborhood, please contact us at 1-800-221-0051 and press 3 for NJNG. Then choose the option for the construction desk. If you prefer, you may speak directly with the crew leader or NJNG inspector on-site in your neighborhood.