On any given day, SDG&E Cathodic Protection employees protect our underground steel gas pipeline from corrosion. As mandated by the California Public Utilities Company, the Cathodic Protection department performs regular inspections on our equipment to ensure public safety and maintain pipeline integrity for our region’s more than 6,500 miles of steel gas pipelines.
Safety and Awareness
Some of the biggest challenges our employees encounter in their daily work are dogs, locked gates, inaccessible meters, and people not knowing why SDG&E crews are there. Some customers believe that our employees would no longer need to access their property when automated meter reading began, but that’s not the case. To provide safe and reliable gas and electric service, meters must be accessible 24 hours a day for visual inspections, testing, maintenance and emergencies.
When Cathodic Protection employees work their routes, they may approach the area around your home to perform work around the gas meter or area of the property where the gas service runs to the meter.
What to Expect from Cathodic Protection
If you see someone in your yard or near your gas meter and you’re unsure whether the person is an SDG&E Cathodic Protection employee, check to see if they are wearing SDG&E branded clothing, a safety vest and a company badge for identification. A company vehicle will be in proximity to the employee but may not be at the residence.
Cathodic Protection employees will call out as they walk to the meter to announce their arrival and may knock on doors or contact the homeowner by phone to get access to meters behind a gate or confine dogs in the yard if possible. The employee will also leave a door hanger with information to contact the Call Center so they can schedule an appointment to gain access if company equipment is inaccessible.
Cathodic Protection employees do what they do because your safety will always be our top priority.
More Resource & Gas Safety Tips
- If you suspect a gas leak, call 911 or call SDG&E at 1-800-611-7343
- Gas pipelines and electric lines can be located anywhere. Call 811 before you dig to protect your safety and avoid costly repairs.
- Learn how to shut off your gas safely in an emergency.
- Check your gas appliances frequently to make sure they are in good working order.
- Find more gas safety information at sdge.com/gas-safety.