We Need Full Disclosure from Washington Gas about Natural Gas Leaks
Washington Gas should immediately share with the public all of the information about natural gas leaks and repairs that they are required by law to report to the DC government and regulators. If Washington Gas won’t provide full and daily disclosure to the public about the gas leaks, then the DC government should.
The utility company must take ownership of their communication, transparency, and accountability problems and reach out to all residents on a regular basis about their work above and below ground.
Edward Segal’s 10-point plan for reforms and improvements follows:
Annual Report to Public
- Require Washington Gas to post on their website an annual report to the public about the status of all gas leaks and their repairs for the previous 12 months. Click here to see how a nonprofit organization presents annual leak and repair information from Massachusetts utility companies on their website.
Interactive Map
- Post an interactive map on the Washington Gas website that enables the public to search by zip code for information about the most recent gas-related leaks and repairs; include a summary of information and statistics about completed or anticipated repairs. There is a map for reporting and monitoring leaks in New York on Con Edison’s website at this link.
Social Media/Website
- Communicate directly with residents via e-mail and social media platforms.
- Use AlertDC, an existing community notification service, to allow residents to subscribe to alerts about gas leaks and repairs in their neighborhood.
- Produce and post YouTube videos and webinars to help explain and illustrate the gas pipeline-related problems that the gas company is addressing and make it as easy as possible for people to understand the issues and solutions.
- Post updates about repair work on the Washington Gas website.
Billing Statements
- Include repair-related information with bills that are sent to ratepayers via email or snail mail.
News Releases
- Issue news releases and briefing information to news organizations, especially community-based newspapers that focus on and highlight local news and developments.
Partnerships
- Engage/partner with local groups and organizations as another way to help connect with residents.
Community Forums/Town Hall Meetings
- Hold a regular series of community forums and town hall meetings that are co-sponsored and promoted in conjunction with Advisory Neighborhood Commissions or other local groups and organizations.
DC Gas Leaks 