About 650 Minnesota Energy Resources customers in the Willow River, Sturgeon Lake and Finlayson areas are without natural gas service after damage to a Northern Natural Gas interstate pipeline cut off supply to the utility, officials said Friday.
The damage to the Northern Natural Gas (NNG) pipeline has prevented the transmission operator from delivering gas to Minnesota Energy Resources’ system. The utility said it is working closely with NNG to restore service “as quickly and safely as possible.”
While repairs are underway, NNG is bringing in natural gas supply trucks to provide temporary fuel to homes and businesses. Minnesota Energy Resources said it expects to begin restoring temporary service to some customers overnight and into Saturday morning as fuel becomes available.
During the temporary restoration phase, customers are asked to keep thermostats between 50 and 55 degrees and avoid using unnecessary natural gas appliances to conserve supply.
The utility is bringing in crews from across Minnesota, along with additional contractors, to support the restoration effort. Crews will work through the night, and residents who want to be visited overnight are asked to keep a porch light or visible indoor light on. Homes without visible lights will be visited during daytime hours Saturday.
Because of the extent of the pipeline damage, full restoration of natural gas service may take several days, the utility said.
Minnesota Energy Resources said it will continue to update customers as repairs progress.
