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Gas Department
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Fairhope Public Utilities
Gas Department
555 South Section Street
Fairhope, AL 36533
(251) 928-8003
Fax (251) 990-0156
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Background
The City of Fairhope Natural Gas Department opened for business on November 1, 1950, and by the end of that first fiscal year, there were 809 customers. Over the next decade, that number increased rapidly, and by 1962, the City of Fairhope was serving 2,600 customers with natural gas.
Today, the department and the customers it serves both continue to grow. Presently, there are 16 employees and over 8,852 customers. In addition to the city of Fairhope, Fairhope Natural Gas serves customers in Spanish Fort, Daphne, Malbis, Belforest, Point Clear, Barnwell, and Stapleton with natural gas supplied by Gulf South and Prior Energy. 
The department maintains 303 miles of two-inch mains, 55 miles of two- to four-inch mains, and 101 miles of four- to eight-inch gas mains, and does all its own maintenance, including leak survey, repairs, line locating, valve maintenance, service line installation, main line extensions, etc. Equipment owned by the department includes two welding trucks, three service trucks, a backhoe, two Vermeer combo, and two Vermeer directional boring machines.
A member of the Alabama Natural Gas Association and American Gas Association, Fairhope Natural Gas is regulated by the Department of Transportation and the Alabama Public Service Commission. For more information on Fairhope Natural Gas or for service inquiries, contact Public Works at 928-8003.
Employees of Fairhope Public Utilities, Gas Department
Steve Seay: Superintendent
Robert Rohm: Assistant Supervisor
Lloyd Cluster: Customer Service
John Curtis: Customer Service
Terry Holman: Customer Service
Rickie Ward: Forman (Main Lines)
James Keith: Forman (Service Lines)
Raymond Mena: Welder
Wes Stapleton: Service Technician
Tyrel Northrop: Equipment Operator
Darren Knight: Locater
Darrell Bryant: Welder
Nino Frego: Equipment Operator
Mark Davis: Service Technician
Brandon Powell: Equipment Operator |
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 Steve Seay |
From Top Left: Darren Knight, Rickie Ward, Brandon Powell, Ty Northrop, Nino Frego and Raymond Mena
From Bottom Left: Mark Davis, Robert Rohm Terry Holman, Lloyd Cluster, Wes Stapleton Darrell Bryant and James Keith |
Administered under the supervision of the Fairhope Gas Department is GIS, which stands for Geographic Information System. It is operated by GIS Technician, David Powell and has been in operation since 1999.
GIS is a unique system that manages, manipulates and analyzes data to produce e asy-to-understand maps, reports, and other decision-making tools for other city departments and services. Currently the City of Fairhope is using aerial photography along with GIS to develop a digital, mapped inventory of city utilities that outlines all gas, water, sewer, and electric lines and pinpoints the location of all valves, manholes, regulator stations, fire hydrants, meters, etc. Powell says the main benefits of GIS are in analyzing trends and integrating data from different sources to assist in decision making. He says the City of Fairhope is continually finding new ways to use GIS to look at existing data, solve current problems, and plan for future growth and development.
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| OnThe Job |
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Terry Holman: Checking odorant level in gas line at High Pressure Regulator Station (10 Years Service City of Fairhope) |
John Curtis: Locating Natural Gas Line (30 Years Service with City of Fairhope)
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Nino Frego (3 Years Service City of Fairhope) with James Keith (16 Years Service City of Fairhope): Installing High Pressure Regulator Station |
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Brandon Powell: Digging out gas main to make tie in (7 Years Service with City of Fairhope) |
Robert Rohm: Assistant Superintendent (24 Years Service with City Of Fairhope) |
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Damage Prevention Program
Map
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To all personnel who perform or supervise any type on or near the following location PLEASE USE CAUTION (see map)
The primary purpose of this page is to inform you of our "Damage Prevention Program", according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's guidelines (§192.614), which provides persons planning to dig or excavate in the vicinity of our pipelines with an easy, convenient means of finding where our pipelines are located and assuring safety.
Please notify us if you plan to conduct any "excavation" activities in our service area. This can be done simply by contacting the Alabama One Call Center, or Fairhope Public Utilities Gas office. (Telephone numbers are listed below). These numbers should be called 48 hours in advance of the planned excavation activity. Our personnel will determine if your work will affect the lines and mark any area, which could be affected. The presence of yellow paint or yellow flags in an area of excavation indicates the presence of underground gas facilities.
Natural Gas Facts
The primary component of natural gas is the hydrocarbon, methane, (CH4). A versatile, non-toxic fuel, which is normally transported to the end user through a system of pipelines. The gas is normally contained within the pipeline, however if the pipeline is damaged, the product can be released into the atmosphere. Natural gas is colorless and odorless in its natural state; however we inject an odorant into most of the district's lines to make the gas readily detectable. Methane gas is lighter than air and will diffuse rapidly, but will burn readily when mixed with the proper amount of air. If you detect a leak, please notify a Fairhope Public Utilities Gas office immediately.
Alabama One-Call
What is One-Call?
One Call is a notification center which establishes an information path between those who dig underground (excavators) and those who operate underground facilities (operators). It is the most efficient and cost effective method of passing information between operators and excavators.
Why is it necessary?
Having lines located before you dig can save you:
• Costly repairs to damaged lines
• Delays in construction
• Wasted crew time
• Personal injury or property damage
• Possible legal action
How do I use One-Call?
The Alabama Line Location Center can be reached by dialing 1-800-292-8528. The operator will ask for information to determine the location of your work and type work to be performed. This is a FREE service to the caller.
Who benefits?
Everyone operators, excavators and the public benefit from the elimination of dig-ins. It reduces the chance of death or personal injury, damage to public and private property and interruption of services, which may be vital to public safety.
Map of Gas Distribution System
Fairhope Public Utilities is a publicly owned natural gas distribution system operating in Baldwin Counties of South Alabama. Our gate station is located in Bay Minette Alabama with gas mains extending southerly through cities and communities in Stapleton, Spanish Fort, Daphne, Malbis, Belforest, Montrose, Fairhope, Battles Wharf, Fish River, Point Clear and Barnwell. |
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