UPDATE 9/6/2024
Additional Land Movement to Cause Gas Service Shutoffs in Portuguese Bend Beach Club and Seaview
Due to additional land movement, SoCalGas has determined it is unsafe to continue providing natural gas service to 28 homes in the western Seaview area and 24 homes in Portuguese Bend Beach Club.
At approximately 3pm Friday 9/6, SoCalGas will safely turn off natural gas service to those homes.
During construction work, nearby residents may briefly smell the odor of natural gas as SoCalGas safely removes any remaining natural gas from its infrastructure.
If your natural gas service is turned off, please do not attempt to restore service or to connect alternative fuels like propane to your natural gas meter. Doing so is unsafe.
Before connecting alternative fuels like propane to your home’s natural gas plumbing, please consult a licensed professional.
SoCalGas will continue to coordinate with first responders, city officials and third-party experts monitoring and responding to dynamic land movement conditions. Residents in the above communities may see SoCalGas representatives working in their areas to monitor conditions as they change or to assess or work to improve the ongoing safety of the natural gas infrastructure.
SoCalGas will also continue to provide updates to customers and local city officials on its efforts to safeguard natural gas infrastructure for customers and as conditions change.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
If you suspect a natural gas leak, please don’t wait - call us immediately at 1-800-427-2200.
If your natural gas service is turned off, please do not attempt to restore service or to connect alternative fuels like propane to your natural gas meter. Doing so is unsafe.
Before connecting alternative fuels like propane to your home’s natural gas plumbing, please consult a licensed professional.
HOW TO REACH US
For customer service inquiries, please contact us at 1-877-238-0092 or email us at projectinfo@socalgas.com.
FAQ
What areas are affected?
- The land movement in certain areas of the Palos Verdes Peninsula remains dynamic and SoCalGas is actively monitoring conditions as they evolve. We understand this remains a difficult situation for the community.
- Due to ongoing land movement, SoCalGas has determined it is unsafe to continue providing natural gas service to three areas of the peninsula: Portuguese Bend, Portuguese Bend Beach Club and 28 homes in the western Seaview area. Affected customers have been or will be contacted by a SoCalGas representative concerning shutoffs, which will begin at approximately 3 p.m. on Friday Sept. 6.
Will service be restored?
- At this time, we do not know when it will be safe to restore service in these areas.
- Unfortunately, concerns that we cannot safely serve you or your community requires SoCalGas to discontinue natural gas service to your home.
- SoCalGas continues to work with City leaders, first responders and others responding to the ongoing land movement.
- We will continue to evaluate our ability to serve you in the future.
- SoCalGas personnel will inform the community and contact customers when restoration of service is safe to operate our infrastructure.
- Customers should never try to restore service by connecting alternative fuels like propane to their natural gas meter. Doing so is unsafe.
Could additional areas require gas service shutoffs?
- Unfortunately, we do not know. The Palos Verdes Peninsula continues to experience significant new land movement damaging roads, homes and further threatening the safety of SoCalGas’ infrastructure.
- SoCalGas continues to take steps to minimize the impacts to natural gas service caused by land movement, where possible. However, if we identify potential safety concerns with the natural gas infrastructure serving your community, SoCalGas may be required to turn off natural gas service to protect public safety. If service shutoffs are required, we will notify you as quickly as possible.
- SoCalGas will continue to coordinate with first responders, city officials and third-party experts monitoring and responding to dynamic land movement conditions. Residents may see SoCalGas representatives working in their areas to monitor conditions as they change or to assess or work to improve the ongoing safety of the natural gas infrastructure.
- SoCalGas will also continue to provide updates to customers and local city officials on its efforts to safeguard natural gas infrastructure for customers and as conditions change.
Why is this happening now?
- The land movement in certain areas of the Palos Verdes Peninsula remains dynamic and SoCalGas is actively monitoring conditions as they evolve.
- Recently, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes provided an update from city engineers on the land movement, who determined, “movement on the north and west ends of the landslide complex is slowing down, while movement at the south end continues to accelerate.” Engineers estimate that the land may be moving up to 4.5 feet per month at its current rate, “about 88 times faster than it was in October 2022.”
- That movement has significantly compromised the safe operation of the natural gas pipelines serving certain areas in the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Observations and assessments made by our personnel require that we discontinue service to these areas to promote the safety of the community.
Will I be compensated for having my service disconnected?
- SoCalGas does not have plans to compensate customers for service shutoffs.
- In July, SoCalGas provided one-time assistance payments of $2,500 to help impacted Portuguese Bend residents who did not have natural gas service due to proactive, preventative shutoffs caused by land movement concerns. These one-time payments were made to the impacted residents at that time to assist with meeting immediate needs and potentially transitioning to alternative sources of energy.
- Since then, the dynamic and fast-changing land movement on the Palos Verdes Peninsula has entered a new phase, prompting several decisive actions to protect affected residents and business owners:
- Southern California Edison has shut off electric service to hundreds of homes in the Portuguese Bend and Seaview areas, some indefinitely.
- The City of Rancho Palos Verdes issued an evacuation warning for the Portuguese Bend Community Association telling residents that they should, “prepare to evacuate and seek alternative housing.”
- Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes due to increasing land movement and utilities’ increasing inability to safely serve portions of the community.
- Affected customers may be able to seek relief through SoCalGas’ Emergency Disaster Relief program. More information can be found at socalgas.com/EDR.
Will I still receive a SoCalGas Bill?
- You will not be billed for gas service for the period when it’s unavailable to you.
- SoCalGas will forgive the current bill for impacted account holders. Customers with an account credit will receive a refund.