Since we moved into our new house in 2004, I've on occasion noticed the odour of natural gas in our driveway. But various experts reasoned the smell away due to a number of factors, and so I have never vigorously pursued it with Terasen.
That changed this afternoon, as I parked my Ford in the driveway.
I was surprised to discover that our natural gas line had developed a loud and stinky leak, right at the meter outside the garage. So, after a quick reference to the phone book (maybe the first time I've used a phone book in the past year), I called Terasen's Emergency line.
That was more than five and a half hours ago.
Here it is 11:43 pm, and still I wait. The gas line is still hissing, the neighbours are concerned, but still no technician. The operator who answers the phone has offered lots of apologies, but what is that worth if a stray spark suddenly turns my house into an inferno?
So here I sit, waiting. Worrying. And wondering who changed the meaning of the word, "emergency"?
UPDATE: 1:43 am, Tuesday July 28 - Phil, the Terasen technician, just left, and finally the leak has been fixed, only a little over 6 hours after I first called it in. I asked him about the flies that litter the ground under the meter. He explained that they are attracted to the odour, but are often overcome by the fumes.
UPDATE: 7:17 pm, Tuesday July 28 - A second technician visited today, who raised the meter. Although I didn't take notice when we first built the house, it has become very obvious since then that the meter is literally below grade (it's in a hole). When the snow drifts, I am constantly having to dig the thing out. Nice to see Terasen doing what it can to dig out of its own hole, after the atrocious "emergency" response last night.
I'm still shaking my head; the flow of gas from the leak was so loud last night that when the technician finally arrived - more than 6 hours after my original call - he immediately exclaimed, "Holy shit!" Thank God we didn't have any lightening in the neighbourhood!
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