Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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The city of Duluth has lifted its request for natural gas customers in the eastern half of the city to keep their thermostats turned down, after the city's largest gas main was damaged.

“We would like to thank the public for their assistance over the last few days,” Greg Guerrero, interim director of the city's Public Works & Utilities Department, said in a news release at midday Sunday. “Reducing the load on the gas service allowed our crews and contractors to make the repairs that we needed to make, and gave us time to be confident about the flow of gas to serve customers. We know that for many this was an inconvenience and appreciate their help to maintain services to the entire community.”

Officials on Friday had asked Duluth natural gas customers east of Lake Avenue to lower their thermostats to 62 degrees, after the gas main break on Thursday night.

The city said it was part of an effort to reduce demand and avoid full gas shutoffs in some neighborhoods.

The gas main was damaged Thursday night when a contractor working in the Lincoln Park neighborhood drove a piling through the pipe. The city first asked residents to lower their thermostats on Friday morning.

Duluth Mayor Emily Larson issued a statement thanking the crews that worked through the weekend to repair the large gas main quickly, and preserve some level of natural gas service to the eastern half of the city.

“I also want to thank everyone impacted by this," Larson said. "Because so many were willing to sacrifice their comfort and turn their thermostats down, we didn’t have to shut off services to neighborhoods. We cannot thank residents and businesses enough for their patience and understanding.”

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The city of Duluth has lifted its request for natural gas customers in the eastern half of the city to keep their thermostats turned down, after the city's largest gas main was damaged.


Duluth lifts request for natural gas customers to dial back thermostats

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