EVANSVILLE, Ind., May 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vectren, A CenterPoint Energy Company, wishes to extend its deepest sympathy to the families of those affected by Sunday morning’s incident. We would like to thank the first responders and community agencies for their service and support, including the Jeffersonville Fire Department, Jeffersonville Police Department and American Red Cross.
After being notified early Sunday morning, we activated our emergency response plan. Vectren crews immediately responded to the scene and made the area safe by turning off natural gas service to neighboring homes and evacuating the area. While the investigation is ongoing, it has now been determined the cause was natural gas. However, the source of the natural gas involved in the incident appears to have been in the interior of the home, not on pipeline or infrastructure owned by Vectren.
We will continue to work closely with all parties to ensure all facts and inputs needed to inform the investigation are provided. We will also continue to work closely with the Jeffersonville Fire Department and Jeffersonville Police Department as their investigation continues. We are assisting the American Red Cross as it coordinates shelter for those who are unable to return to their homes due to damage.
Vectren is committed to the safety of our customers, employees, contractors, systems and communities. Our goal is to deliver natural gas and electricity safely to the communities we serve. As a reminder to all Vectren customers, if you smell natural gas or suspect a natural gas leak, please call us directly at 1-800-227-1376 or call emergency response at 911.
About CenterPoint Energy
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. is an energy delivery company with regulated utility businesses in eight states and a competitive energy businesses footprint in nearly 40 states. Through its electric transmission & distribution, power generation and natural gas distribution businesses, the company serves more than 7 million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. CenterPoint Energy’s competitive energy businesses include natural gas marketing and energy-related services; energy efficiency, sustainability and infrastructure modernization solutions; and construction and repair services for pipeline systems, primarily natural gas. The company also owns 54.0 percent of the common units representing limited partner interests in Enable Midstream Partners, LP, a publicly traded master limited partnership that owns, operates and develops strategically located natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With approximately 14,000 employees and nearly $29 billion in assets, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.
Media contact: Natalie Hedde, (812) 491-5105 or natalie.hedde@centerpointenergy.com