Natural Gas Line Rupture Leaves More Than 2,200 Customers in the Cold in Gunnison County, Colorado

At approximately 3:15 on Thursday, January 4th, a natural gas transportation line owned by Xcel Energy ruptured. The natural gas pipeline rupture disrupted natural gas service to all Atmos Energy customers in the north end of Gunnison County, Colorado including customers in Crested Butte South, the towns of Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte as well as other outlying areas. The incident left 2,200 businesses and residences without service for three full days.

Natural gas expelled from the pipeline resulting from the rupture did not ignite, but the rupture did cause the ground near mile marker 24 of Colorado Highway 135 to collapse. The guardrail along the highway was also damaged.

Though no injuries or fatalities resulted from the incident, the natural gas pipeline break and subsequent disruption in service had extensive effects. Highway 135 was closed for nearly two hours during that afternoon and evening, effectively isolating the Crested Butte area's population. Several area businesses and restaurants were forced to close due to the disruption in service, leaving tourists including 1,300 college students in for the ski resort's annual "Butte Bash" without access to cooking facilities or restaurants for meals.

Emergency response to the incident was quick, and officials from Gunnison County, Xcel Energy and Atmos Energy worked together to manage the situation. Xcel energy workers began repairs to the line at approximately two hours after the rupture. The county's reverse 911 emergency system was activated five times during the three days that natural gas service was disrupted to keep the area's population informed and updated about the incident.

Atmos Energy workers began the time-intensive task of physically turning off every meter on the north end of the valley, as each individual natural gas meter needed to be turned off before natural gas service could be restored. Turning off meters was a necessary protective measure that minimized the risk of further incidents related to the rupture.