Country Property home owner gets saddled with $6100 Gas bill! Could this happen to you?

September 11, 2014 · 0 Comments

Most families who live out in the country enjoy freedoms and privileges a spacious country life provides such as recreational vehicles, kids driving refurbished golf carts, sleds in the winter.
Some families even have routes set out on their properties that their kids have driven on millions of times.
On June 21st , 2014, local country property home owner, Duncan Paterson’s daughter celebrated an 11th birthday and as any young girl who enjoys a country life-style, she took her friends for a ride in a golf cart, one she had driven hundred’s of times before without incident.
As many adults can attest, accidents can happen in the blink of an eye and in an instant, the golf cart had knocked over the main farm tap gas pipe and suddenly a day of celebration turned into a day of trauma.
While controversial discussions could ensue regarding parenting liberties, especially from city parents, many country parents would be hard pressed to remember a time when their child didn’t have access to some sort of recreational vehicle and have never had a problem, but in this case, what happened next is what ALL country homeowners need to know.
A gas leak is a very serious emergency situation and Mr. Paterson’s gas line is situated precariously close to Highway 10. Upon installation of the pipe line initially, the pipeline’s location was not considered by the gas company at the time in need of barriers according to industry standards. Fast forward twelve years later bringing us to the stressful day in question, following a quick 911 call,emergency services, firetruck, police in addition to the gas company trying to make repairs and the result is a homeowners nightmare combined with gratitude that no one was injured. Highway 10, understandably was closed for hours, neighbours were instructed to leave their homes, and as repairs continued, it occurred to Mr. Paterson he wished he had a protective barrier installed. One of the gas repair men asked if he wanted one and Mr. Paterson answered, “Yes”, never wandering what the cost would be or if there was even a cost. Expecting a high cost in general, relief the repair was completed by professionals, Mr. Paterson, stressed but grateful awaited a bill.
In today’s hard hit economy, we can only imagine Mr. Paterson’s reaction to receiving a bill to the tune of almost $6,100 with a request for payment by week’s end.
According to Enbridge Communications Specialist of Public and Government Affairs, Michelle McLeod, “ Safety is our top priority. Enbridge Gas distribution encourages anyone who is concerned about safety to call us. We will come out and assess the situation, and install a barrier if we feel it’s warranted. While a barrier does provide a visual clue, it may not protect against a strong force such as a vehicle. That’s why farm taps are generally located away from the road so they are not at risk of being hit by vehicular traffic.”
Mind boggling to think that Mr. Duncan’s barriers weren’t initially installed all those years ago, when the lines were laid ensuring an accident such as this could never occur with a golf cart. Clearly the situation was assessed and the barriers were installed. Enbridge insists there was no cost of installation of the barriers and has been as forthcoming as possible regarding the repair costs of this gas line, but can the cost for the gas pipes really be close to $6,100, especially when excluding the cost of installation of barriers?
If you have any questions or concerns or merely want to know if your gas line might require barriers, contact your gas company. Accidents happen and hindsight is rarely useful as one little girl’s birthday had a very expensive price tag, but not to worry. Enbridge promises to work with a payment plan if required.
This reporter will follow up with any updates.

By Alex Sher