Gas
Today, we serve approximately 500,000 customers (nearly 150,000 accounts) in the cities of Long Beach and Signal Hill in addition to portions of Los Alamitos, Bellflower, Compton, and Los Angeles County.
Long Beach Utilities is consistently recognized for its leadership in engineering, safety, sustainability, and efficiency. We look forward to the future by leading the way to California's clean energy future. One example is the use of renewable gas sources from the nation's agricultural and urban waste streams, which along with solar and wind power, will help us achieve our city's sustainable energy goals.
Natural Gas Operations
Natural gas powers many of our everyday activities, such as cooking, heating, bathing, and washing clothes. Getting that gas to homes and businesses is accomplished through a state-of-the-art gas distribution infrastructure designed, operated, and maintained in-house by dedicated engineers, and construction and field service professionals.
In fact, did you know that a complex network of over 1,800 miles of pipelines operates just underfoot? In compliance with many stringent federal and state regulations, this system is constantly monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and annually audited by oversight agencies.
Facts And Glossary
What is Natural Gas
Natural gas is made up of hydrocarbon gases, primarily methane, which naturally occurs in rock formations deep below the earth's surface. The natural gas is withdrawn and transported to homes and businesses through an underground system of pipes. Natural gas is efficient, clean-burning (emits few pollutants), plentiful, and safe.
Natural Gas Pipelines:
There are over 1,900 miles of natural gas pipelines in our community that safely transports over 25 million cubic feet of natural gas to our customers. Long Beach Utilities primary focus in operating these pipelines is to ensure the public's safety. We regularly monitor our pipelines and perform periodic leak patrols along all pipeline routes to ensure the safety and integrity of those lines, and monitor the natural gas pressure in the pipeline system 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Control and Dispatch Center immediately implements response measures, should an abnormal condition be detected.
Natural Gas Measurement:
Natural gas is metered in hundreds of cubic feet (CCF's) and is sold to customers in Therms.
Therm:
A unit of energy measurement equal to 100,000 British thermal units (Btu's).
British Thermal Unit (BTU):
The amount of heat it takes to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. It is also approximately equal to the amount of heat given off from burning a wooden kitchen match.
Energy Content:
The measure of the heat produced by burning natural gas.
