Consumers Energy says a high pressure natural gas leak under the Thornapple River near Nashville began on a six-inch steel gas main Wednesday night. The loss of pressure in the system is causing problems for residents of the Hastings and Nashville areas.

 

Crews have been working overnight to create a temporary bypass to restore natural gas services before they can make permanent repairs. It is unknown at this time what caused the gas leak.

 

Consumers Energy will be going door-to-door to area customers starting Thursday morning to temporarily disconnect their natural gas. After that, natural gas will be reintroduced into the system. Natural gas workers will then start relighting customers' pilot lights and continue going door to door until they safely restore natural gas service to everyone.

 

About 4,500 customers will be affected. They expect to fix the problem by the end of the weekend.

 

Christopher Fultz, Consumers Energy’s vice president of natural gas operations said “Consumers Energy truly appreciates the patience of our customers during this unusual situation. We are committed to our customers and understand that this will create a hardship. We are in contact with community leaders, and our crews will be working around the clock to safely return full natural gas service to the entire community.”