Use your senses to recognize a potentially dangerous natural gas leak:

1. Smell: Natural gas is odorless except for the harmless odorant we add to help you detect a leak. The added odorant, called mercaptan, has a sulfur-like smell, similar to a rotten egg.
2. Hear: A leak may produce a noise that ranges from next to nothing to a slight hiss to a loud roar, depending on the leak’s size and pressure.
3. See: A leak may cause dust, dirt or debris to fly, or create blowing or continuous bubbling movement in water. It also can cause a spot of dead or discolored vegetation in an otherwise green area.

When an odor is persistent or seems to be everywhere, it could be a sign of a gas leak inside your home or with an outside line. Upon detecting such an odor, immediately get everyone out of your home or building, move a safe distance away, and then call for help. Because an electric spark can ignite an explosion, remember to follow these tips:

1. Do not turn on or turn off electrical switches.
2. Avoid using electric appliances such as garage door openers or telephones of any type.
3. Do not start up or shut down motor vehicles or any other electrical equipment.
4. Do not strike a match. Avoid open flames or other ignition sources.
5. Move to a location a safe distance away from your home when the odor is outdoors.
6. Call Xcel Energy at 800-895-2999 or 911 in an emergency.
7. Stay away until Xcel Energy or the emergency responders have told you it’s safe to return.

Keep Natural Gas Meters Clear

Clearing snow and ice from natural gas meters is key to avoiding the potential for dangerous natural gas buildup indoors due to vents becoming sealed. We strongly recommend keeping the entire meter assembly clear by gently removing snow or ice from the meter, associated piping, and the roofline above the meter. You should check often to ensure melting snow isn’t dripping on the meter from the roof or nearby trees. Use a shovel around the meter to move snow away. Do not use a snowblower near a meter.

Use Heating Safety

If using a space heater, take care to ensure safety, because more than 65,000 home fires are attributed to heating equipment each year in the United States, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International. When using a space heater, make sure the heater has the label showing it is listed by a recognized testing laboratory and read the manufacturer’s instructions and warning labels. Additionally, inspect heaters for cracked or broken plugs and connections. Don’t use a space heater if connections are frayed, worn or damaged. Never leave a space heater unattended. Turn it off when leaving a room and don’t go to sleep with a space heater on.

Be Prepared

Visit our Preparing for an Outage page for more information.

While rare, natural gas outages can occur. Power outages can also interrupt natural gas service. Here are some tips for staying warm if your gas service is interrupted while the weather is cold:

• Keep your house from cooling down.
• Close blinds and drapes.
• Avoid opening doors.
• Put on multiple layers of clothing and don’t forget your head and feet (where the majority of heat-loss happens).

In addition, take care when choosing alternative heat sources:

• Indoor electric heaters are safe (when used properly).
• Avoid wood fireplaces (they require ventilation). 
• Never use outdoor barbecues, kerosene heaters or camping heaters (they emit carbon monoxide).

If you are having trouble keeping your home comfortably warm during a natural gas service outage, do not stay overnight. Consider spending the night with family or friends, in a hotel or contact your local police or fire department to see if shelters are available.