Vectren Continues Major Infrastructure Project
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowEvansville-based Vectren Corp. (NYSE: VVC) is continuing a multi-year effort to replace about 1,300 miles of pipeline. The utility says it will spend $45 million this year on upgrades in 28 Indiana cities.
May 14, 2014
News Release
Evansville, Ind. — Vectren Energy Delivery (Vectren) crews and contract crews have begun the process of replacing gas mains and service lines throughout the state as part of the company’s pipeline replacement program, which is a multi-year program to replace about 1,300 miles of bare steel and cast iron pipeline infrastructure in nearly 75 cities or towns in Indiana. This year, 28 cities will be impacted, and crews will replace about 83 miles through a near $45 million investment.
“To ensure the continued reliability of our natural gas pipeline systems and service, Vectren has undertaken a program to replace essentially all of our bare steel and cast iron pipeline infrastructure in Indiana,” said Rick Schach, Vectren’s senior vice president of energy delivery and marketing. “These infrastructure enhancements are vital to meeting federal requirements and ensuring the continued safety of our system for decades to come.”
The following cities will be impacted in 2014: Anderson, Bedford, Bloomington, Columbus, Crawfordsville, Elwood, Evansville, Fairmount, Fortville, Frankfort, Greenfield, Hagerstown, Huntington, Jeffersonville, Knightstown, Lafayette, Madison, Marion, Muncie, New Albany, New Castle, Princeton, Richmond, Terre Haute, Tipton, Vincennes, West Lafayette and Zionsville.
To see detailed project maps on existing or upcoming work in each city, visit www.vectren.com/pipelinereplacement. This site is updated regularly as new projects come online. Replacement work is prioritized based on pipeline assessment and leak repair data as well as the opportunity to minimize the construction impact to the affected city.
These additional cities will be impacted in the coming years: Albany, Alexandria, Arcadia, Cambridge City, Chesterfield, Clarksville, Clifford, Danville, Dublin, Dunkirk, Eaton, Edgewood, Frankton, Gas City, Gaston, Greencastle, Hartford City, Hope, Jonesboro, Lebanon, Francisco, Loogootee, Markleville, Martinsville, Milton, Mitchell, Montgomery, New Columbus, Noblesville, Northcliff, Oakland City, Petersburg, Pendleton, Redkey, Rushville, Seymour, Shideler, Talberton, Taylorsville and Washington.
Given the minimal amount of bare steel and/or cast iron mains within the towns of Brownsburg, Dana, Greensburg, Rockville and Shelbyville, pipeline replacement activities within these areas are now 100-percent complete.
In most cases, a polyethylene (plastic) system is being installed to replace the current bare steel and cast iron gas pipeline system. First, the gas main, which is a gas pipeline that ranges in size from 2” to 8” and is often underneath the street or sidewalk, will be replaced within the right-of-way, and then the service lines running directly to homes and businesses will be replaced. Upon completion of the project, affected yards, sidewalks and streets will be restored.
“Construction for these pipeline projects may take several weeks to complete, and times may vary based on the size of the project, weather, ground surface/soil and other situations that may arise,” said Schach. “Please be assured that Vectren and its contractors will make every effort to complete each project as quickly as possible and minimize impact to customers and the community.”
Prior to service replacement, a Vectren representative will contact customers to provide an overview of the required work. Vectren reminds residents to please keep the following in mind:
• Please exercise caution when driving through the construction zones.
• We urge residents and their children to keep a safe distance away from any work zones.
Since 2008, nearly 250 miles of the 1,300 total miles have been replaced in Indiana, which has led to a 20 percent reduction in leak calls and a reduction in natural gas emissions from the distribution system. For more information about Vectren’s gas infrastructure modernization program in the Vectren-North service area, visit Vectren.com/modernization; Vectren-South customers should visit Vectren.com/safety.
About Vectren
Vectren Corporation (NYSE: VVC) is an energy holding company headquartered in Evansville, Ind. Vectren’s energy delivery subsidiaries provide gas and/or electricity to more than 1 million customers in adjoining service territories that cover nearly two-thirds of Indiana and west central Ohio. Vectren’s nonutility subsidiaries and affiliates currently offer energy-related products and services to customers throughout the U.S. These include infrastructure services, energy services and coal mining. To learn more about Vectren, visit www.vectren.com.
Source: Vectren Corp.