Rocky Mount Public Utilities (RMPU) will observe the national Natural Gas Utility Workers’ Day on March 18, 2018. This is the third year in which Natural Gas Utility Workers’ Day has been officially celebrated across the country. This day of recognition is a time when communities such as ours give recognition to the employees who provide one of their most valuable assets—their natural gas utility.
The official Natural Gas Utility Workers’ Day is March 18 because that is the date of the New London, Texas school explosion in 1937 that led to the widespread odorization of natural gas and an increased emphasis on safety.
One of the testaments to RMPU’s commitment to safety is receiving the Gold designation award in the American Public Gas Association’s (APGA) prestigious System Operation Achievement Recognition (SOAR) program. SOAR awards are given to natural gas utilities that demonstrate excellence in worker safety, workforce development, system integrity and system improvement.
“Natural Gas Utility Workers’ Day is a great opportunity for us to recognize the value of having a public natural gas utility and to honor our employees who provide our natural gas services,” says Rich Worsinger, director of Energy Resources. “Safety is such a vital aspect to the natural gas industry. We are very proud of our employees for their commitment to making natural gas delivery to our customers as safe as possible.”
Natural Gas Utility Workers’ Day is intended to help build public awareness about the hard work done by the employees in the natural gas industry. It also gives utilities an opportunity to educate residents on the many benefits of using natural gas, including:
• According to the American Gas Association (AGA), about 93% of the natural gas used in the U.S. is produced domestically.
• Households that use natural gas appliances for heating, water heating, cooking and clothes drying spend less money than those using electricity or propane for the same applications.
• Since natural gas is delivered via an underground distribution system, service is less vulnerable to storms and extreme weather.
• With a high energy density, natural gas works harder and more efficiently with less waste.
This annual nationwide event is intended to build public awareness about the hard work done by the employees of natural gas utilities. Throughout the month of March, RMPU will also educate residents using social media on the environmental, safety and cost benefits of using clean, reliable and affordable natural gas. Our customers recognize the need to access reliable, affordable, safe energy and depend on the service of natural gas utility employees for that need.
To learn more about the benefits of natural gas and your public natural gas system, please visit www.rockymountnc.gov/utilities. Customers are also encouraged to visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/RockyMountPublicUtilities and Twitter @rmtpu to participate in Natural Gas Utility Workers’ Day.
RMPU looks forward to continuing to bring safe, reliable natural gas into customers’ homes and businesses. Please join us in supporting natural gas as a premier energy source for our country. As the cleanest burning fossil fuel, natural gas can help us achieve energy security and build a more competitive economy.