May 7, 2002

Dominion East Ohio would like to remind customers of the following safety tips regarding natural gas.

Natural gas is both odorless and colorless, so Dominion adds an odorant -- which is a blend of mercaptan and thiophane -- to natural gas so that a customer can detect its presence. One thing's clear: the odor stinks, because it contains sulfur. That's what makes it smell. So if a customer smells natural gas:

• DO NOT attempt to locate the natural gas leak.
• DO NOT remain in the house or building when there is a strong odor. Call Dominion East Ohio Gas from a neighbor's house. Dominion East Ohio provides emergency service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We consider it an emergency if customers smell an odor of gas or if none of their natural gas appliances are working. Call 1-877-542-2630.
• DO NOT turn any electrical switches, appliances or lights on or off, or unplug electrical appliances when there is a strong gas odor.
• DO NOT use telephones or cell phones in the area of a strong gas odor.
• DO NOT operate vehicles or power equipment where leaking gas may be present.
• DO NO smoke or use lighters, matches or other open flames.

Outdoors, customers may not be able to detect a natural gas leak by smell. Signs of an outdoor leak include:

• Customers may hear a hissing sound;
• see a steady stream of bubbles on the surface of puddles or ponds, or water or dirt being blown into the air;
• see dead grass or plants in an area where there is a gas line;
• or see a fire coming from the ground or burning above it.

If customers detect these signs of an outdoor natural gas leak, they should leave the area and warn others to leave, too. They should call Dominion East Ohio from a safe location. Dominion East Ohio advises customers not to attempt to put out fires or operate pipeline valves. Call your fire department.

As with any mechanical equipment, natural gas appliances need regular inspection and maintenance by a qualified professional.

• To ensure maximum safety, efficiency and economy, Dominion East Ohio recommends an annual inspection. For a listing of local contractors, customers can call the Comfort Line at 1-800-427-1471. As a secondary line of defense, customers should consider installing a carbon monoxide detector.
• Dominion East Ohio recommends that customers avoid pinching or crimping flexible gas connectors because they may damage these connectors. Any uncoated brass connectors should be replaced immediately with either a new plastic-coated brass or stainless steel connector approved by the American Gas Association. Any connector can wear out from too much moving, bending or corrosion.

Call Before You Dig

Thinking about digging in your yard? Call before you dig. Dig-ins from third parties--either individuals or contractors--are a major cause of damage to underground natural gas lines. State law requires individuals or contractors to contact the Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS), toll-free, at 1-800-362-2764, at least 48 hours, before digging. OUPS will notify all member utilities with underground facilities in that particular area. The utilities will have their lines marked, so the excavation work can be completed safely.

Pipeline Safety

There are two pieces of pipeline that a customer needs to maintain--the service line and the customer's home or business line. The service line runs from Dominion East Ohio's main line to the gas meter and the home or business line runs from the gas meter to the appliances. Any costs for inspection, maintenance, repair or replacement of your service line, buried or aboveground home or business lines are your responsibility. The meter is owned and maintained by Dominion East Ohio.

Other Home Safety Tips

• Keep combustible materials away from furnaces, water heaters, ranges or other appliances.
• Clean dirt and dust from underneath and around appliances, for maximum safety and efficiency.
• Don't tamper with or obstruct the gas meter, whether it's located inside or outside the home.
• Also, never use a gas meter as hanger, a bike post or for any other purpose.
• Customers should be sure to have a working smoke detector on each floor of their home to alert families of danger. Check the detectors monthly and change the batteries yearly.
• House numbers should be posted clearly on the home or mailbox. Obscured or missing house numbers can cause a delay in locating a home during an emergency.

With proper use and maintenance, customers will continue to enjoy safe and efficient use of their natural gas appliances.

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy, with a production capability of more than 3 trillion British thermal units of energy per day. Dominion has a diversified and integrated energy portfolio consisting of 22,000-megawatts of generation, 4.6 trillion cubic feet equivalent of natural gas reserves, 7,600 miles of natural gas transmission pipeline and 3.8 million franchise natural gas and electric customers in five states. Dominion also operates the nation's largest underground natural gas storage system with more than 950 billion cubic feet of storage capacity. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's web site at www.dom.com.