Crews’ progress

Several crews from Michels Corporation, CenterPoint Energy’s authorized contractor, are continuing to schedule appointments to move inside meters outside, and they are replacing some natural gas service lines. This week and next, here’s where the crews are and plan to keep working:

• 5000 block of Bryant Avenue S.
• 4800 block of Colfax Avenue S.
• 4800 block of Emerson Avenue S.
• 4900 and 5000 blocks of Fremont Avenue S.
• 5000 block of Girard Avenue S.

Service line and meter work

As a reminder, here is what residents can expect: 

The customer will receive a CenterPoint Energy postcard in the mail explaining the project before the natural gas crews perform the work. The crews will have CenterPoint Energy-authorized photo IDs. After the customer receives the postcard, the technician will arrive at the customer’s house to schedule an appointment that typically meets with the customer’s schedule. If the customer isn’t home when they arrive, they will leave a door tag with their contact information to schedule an appointment with them.

One natural gas crew typically works on about one block per week. They will either fully replace the service line or reconnect it to the new main, depending on the line’s age. For most properties, the crews remove at least one sidewalk panel in front of the house, excavate a hole by the outside meter, and bore the service line from the sidewalk to the house.

For inside meters, the crew will make a two- to three-hour appointment at a time that works with the resident. We encourage customers to work with the crew on where they want the meter to go, keeping limitations in mind such as a minimum of three feet away from areas such as windows, doors, and vents. Customers with outside meters will be notified prior to the replacement or connection of the service lines to the new mains.

The technician will access the natural gas meter inside the house, move the meter outside, and relight the natural gas appliance pilot lights after the new meter has been relocated.

Contact information

Check out the project’s web page for more details and for updates on the crews’ progress. If you have questions, please contact our Communication Specialist at 612-321-5546 or hannah.gullickson@centerpointenergy.com. We thank you for your patience as we’re upgrading our infrastructure!