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Wall, NJ – New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) reminds customers to plan ahead and stay safe during hazardous weather conditions. Current forecasts predict that, over the course of today and into tomorrow, the nor’easter will bring the chance of snow, heavy rain and wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour throughout our area, with the potential for flooding and power outages. NJNG crews are on standby to respond to any natural gas emergencies.

NJNG advises customers to leave their natural gas service on, even in the event of an evacuation; customers should not attempt to turn natural gas service off at their meters. Federal, New Jersey and local safety codes prohibit tampering with natural gas meters and service lines. Natural gas is distributed through underground pipelines, which generally operate uninterrupted during a storm. If there is a problem with your natural gas service, immediately report it by calling NJNG’s 24-hour emergency response line at 800-GAS-LEAK (427-5325).

“The safety of our customers, employees and property is our primary concern,” said Kathleen T. Ellis, executive vice president and chief operating officer of New Jersey Natural Gas. “While we do not anticipate service interruptions, our crews are ready to handle any situation that may arise as a result of the storm.”

NJNG encourages customers to stay safe and warm by taking the following precautionary steps:

• If you smell natural gas, leave the premises immediately and call 800-GAS-LEAK (800-427-5325) from a safe location.  DO NOT use a lighter, telephone, switch on/off appliances, lights or even a flashlight on the premises where you smell natural gas as they can create a spark.

A natural gas leak can be detected by smell, sight and/or sound.

SMELL – Since natural gas is colorless and has no scent, an odorant, which smells like rotten eggs, is added to help you detect possible leaks.
SIGHT – Look for dirt blowing in the air, bubbles in standing water or discolored or dead vegetation around the pipeline area.
SOUND – Listen for an unusual noise like roaring, hissing or whistling.

• DO NOT attempt to turn off your natural gas at the meter. The valve should be turned on or off by emergency utility personnel only. 
• DO NOT extinguish or re-ignite a pilot light on your appliances. In the event a pilot light goes out, call a qualified plumber, contractor or NJNG for a safety inspection.
• Should water get into your heating system and/or water heater due to flooding, or if your natural gas meter is damaged by fallen debris or under water, call our 24-hour response line at 800-GAS-LEAK (427-5325).
• Use a broom or your hands to gently remove snow and ice from natural gas meters, piping and vents; never bang on the meter or pipes; avoid using sharp tools or force near the meter, piping or vents to ensure the integrity of the equipment.
• Make sure that the natural gas meter, piping and vents are visible and accessible at all times to allow easy access by NJNG employees and first responders in case of an emergency.

NJNG customer service representatives are on standby to address customers’ needs during this time.  For the latest information throughout the storm, relative to NJNG service, follow us at Facebook.com/NewJerseyNaturalGas.

About New Jersey Resources
New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) is a Fortune 1000 company that provides safe and reliable natural gas and renewable energy services, including transportation, distribution and asset management. With annual revenues of $3 billion, NJR is comprised of five key businesses:

• New Jersey Natural Gas, NJR’s principal subsidiary, operates and maintains 7,000 miles of natural gas transportation and distribution infrastructure to serve approximately half a million customers in New Jersey’s Monmouth, Ocean and parts of Morris and Middlesex counties. 
• NJR Clean Energy Ventures is a leading renewable energy company that invests in, owns and operates solar and onshore wind projects with a total capacity in excess of 42 megawatts, providing residential and commercial customers with low carbon solutions. 
• NJR Energy Services manages a diversified portfolio of natural gas transportation and storage assets and provides customized energy solutions to its customers across North America. 
• NJR Home Services is a premier provider of heating, central air conditioning, standby generators, solar and other indoor and outdoor comfort products to nearly 135,000 residential homes and businesses throughout New Jersey.
• NJR Energy Holdings invests and maintains equity ownership in natural gas storage and transportation pipelines and serves companies from local distributors and producers to electric generators and wholesale marketers.

NJR and its more than 900 employees are committed to helping customers save energy and money by promoting conservation and encouraging efficiency through Conserve to Preserve® and initiatives such as The SAVEGREEN Project® and The Sunlight Advantage®.

For more information about NJR:

Visit www.njresources.com.
Follow us on Twitter @NJNaturalGas.
“Like” us at facebook.com/NewJerseyNaturalGas.
Download our free NJR investor relations app for iPad.