Portuguese Bend Land Movement

Updated 8/2/2024 

On the morning of Monday, July 29, 2024, to protect public safety, SoCalGas turned off natural gas service to approximately 135 homes in the Portuguese Bend community. The significant strain on SoCalGas’ infrastructure caused by accelerating land movement required SoCalGas to take decisive action.

SoCalGas continues to distribute assistance to the Portuguese Bend community. So far assistance has reached 85% of impacted account holders. 

To further enhance safety in the Seaview and Portuguese Bend Beach Club communities, SoCalGas is analyzing advanced meter data to help identify and address potential leaks in those neighborhoods. If SoCalGas identifies a leak through advanced meter data, we will notify you about the necessary repair work required to maintain service. 


WHAT IS NEXT FOR SOCALGAS’ INFRASTRUCTURE IN RANCHO PALOS VERDES 
SoCalGas technical and operating personnel, along with third party experts, have been closely monitoring land movement in several Rancho Palos Verdes communities, including Portuguese Bend, Seaview, and Portuguese Bend Beach Club. 

SoCalGas crews will perform work on other parts of its natural gas network that are under significant strain. 

We will continue to monitor our natural gas infrastructure and to coordinate with first responders, city officials, and third-party experts monitoring and responding to dynamic land movement conditions. 


NEW SAFETY WORK IN SEAVIEW COMMUNITY IS NOT EXPECTED TO IMPACT NATURAL GAS SERVICE 
On Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, SoCalGas will begin work to install a series of isolation valves in the Seaview community. If it becomes necessary, these valves would allow us to safely turn off natural gas to individual streets most impacted by the land movement. 

Excavation work will begin Friday, Aug. 2, 2024. The installation of the valves is not expected to disrupt service to customers in the Seaview community. 


SOCALGAS SAFETY EFFORTS AT THE PORTUGUESE BEND COMMUNITY 
Over the last several months, our crews, system integrity teams and engineers have worked diligently to try to keep the natural gas system in Portuguese Bend safely operating.

• More than 600 ft of pipeline were moved above ground in response to significant land movement.
• A new isolation valve was installed to quickly shut off the system in the event of an emergency and flexible pipeline joints were installed that can accommodate some land movement.
• Leak inspections intervals were accelerated throughout the neighborhood.

MORE INFORMATION ON SOCALGAS’ SYSTEM INTEGRITY WORK 
Over the past several months, SoCalGas had been closely monitoring a series of worsening land movement conditions in the Portuguese Bend community impacting the community’s natural gas infrastructure. 

On May 18, 2024, SoCalGas had to turn off service to four customers on Vanderlip Drive because roadway conditions and new fissures made it unsafe to service or to continue operating a temporary compressed natural gas pod serving the community. 

Unfortunately, the rest of the Portuguese Bend community also began to show signs of significant strain. 

After May 18, 2024, the number of natural gas leaks reported in the Portuguese Bend community, more than doubled compared to the number of leaks reported during all of 2023. 

In response to cumulative leak data, natural gas main repairs, and field observations, SoCalGas integrity engineers conducted a survey of its infrastructure serving the Portuguese Bend community last week. 

That survey confirmed the entire SoCalGas gas system was being impacted and there was no way to safely continue service. 

Following that determination, SoCalGas carried out a process for safe shut down, communicated with stakeholders and mobilized resources to support the community. 

To promote public safety, we also increased our presence significantly starting on Friday, July 26, 2024, performing daily leak inspections by walking and checking each of our pipelines in the community, and by communicating with residents through door-to-door outreach. 


COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE 
We understand this is a difficult situation for the Portuguese Bend community. 

We are providing impacted account holders with $2,500 to help the approximately 135 residents who do not have natural gas service due to the worsening land movement. 

We will continue to have outreach teams in the community to provide information and to deliver assistance through Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

If you are unable to reach our booth this week, a SoCalGas representative will contact you to make delivery arrangements. You may also contact us at projectinfo@socalgas.com to arrange delivery. 

As a reminder, impacted account holders will have outstanding balance removed from their accounts. Customers with an account credit will receive a refund. 


IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
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. 
 

Updated 7/31/2024

On Monday morning, to protect public safety, SoCalGas turned off natural gas service to approximately 135 homes in the Portuguese Bend community. The significant strain on SoCalGas’ infrastructure caused by recent land movement required SoCalGas to take decisive action.
 

SOCALGAS EFFORTS TO SAFELY CONTINUE SERVING THE PORTUGUESE BEND COMMUNITY  

Over the last several months our crews, system integrity teams and engineers have worked diligently to keep the natural gas system in Portuguese Bend safely operating.  

• More than 600 ft of pipeline were moved above ground in response to significant land movement.
• A new isolation valve was installed to quickly shut off the system in the event of an emergency and flexible pipeline joints were installed that can accommodate some land movement.
• Leak inspection intervals were accelerated throughout the neighborhood.
• We have closely coordinated with first responders, city officials and third-party experts to keep the public informed and to support infrastructure enhancements.

Notwithstanding that work and given the accelerating land movement, SoCalGas integrity engineers determined it was no longer safe to operate the system.
 

COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE – WE ARE HERE TO HELP

We understand this is a difficult situation for the Portuguese Bend community.

In the short term, we are providing impacted account holders with $2,500 to help approximately 135 residents who do not have natural gas service due to the worsening land movement.

SoCalGas began distributing assistance in-person on Tuesday, July 30 and has delivered assistance to approximately 50% of impacted households.  

We will continue to have outreach teams in the community to provide information and to deliver assistance through Friday afternoon.  

SoCalGas also announced today the company will forgive outstanding bills for impacted account holders.  

• For customers with an outstanding balance, all charges will be removed from your bill.
• Customers with an account credit will receive a refund.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR SOCALGAS’ INFRASTRUCTURE

On Tuesday, SoCalGas technicians began the necessary work to make impacted customer meters safe. Crews will continue that work over the next several days.

SoCalGas crews will also perform work on parts of the community’s natural gas network that are under significant strain.  

We are also developing a plan to monitor the community’s natural gas infrastructure. We will continue to coordinate with first responders, city officials and third-party experts monitoring and responding to dynamic land movement conditions.  

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Please do not attempt to restore service or try 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

We know you may have concerns, and we are here to assist you.

SoCalGas’ community information booth at the corner of Fruit Tree Rd. and Narcissa Drive will be open daily from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. through Thursday and 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Friday.  

For customer service inquiries, please contact us at 1-877-238-0092 or email us at projectinfo@socalgas.com.

Updated 7/30/2024

Unfortunately, the neighborhood continues to experience significant new land movement damaging roads, homes and further threatening the safety of SoCalGas’ infrastructure. 

Due to the significant strain on SoCalGas’ infrastructure caused by recent land movement, natural gas service was safely turned off in the Portuguese Bend Community. 

SoCalGas will continue to coordinate with the Portuguese Bend Homeowners Association to promptly deliver assistance to customers.

Updated 7/29/2024 


SoCalGas Announces New Assistance for Portuguese Bend Community

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced new assistance to approximately 135 households affected by worsening land movement in the Portuguese Bend Community in Rancho Palos Verdes. 

SoCalGas will provide each impacted account holder with $2500 to help residents who do not have natural gas service due to the land movement. 

“We know this is difficult for the community, especially given the current uncertainty about future natural gas service and the continued land movement,” said SoCalGas Senior Vice President and Chief Infrastructure Officer, Rodger Schwecke. “We want to help our customers meet some of their immediate needs, whether that’s laundry or meals, or to help residents with longer term appliance choices.”

SoCalGas technical and operating personnel, along with third party experts, have been closely monitoring land movement in the Portuguese Bend and other communities for several months. During that time, SoCalGas has worked diligently to continue safely serving the Portuguese Bend community. These efforts included: 
 

• Relocating more than 600 ft of pipeline due to significant land movement.
• Installing a new isolation valve to quickly shut off the community in the event of an emergency and new, innovative flexible pipeline joints that can accommodate some land movement.
• Accelerated leak inspections intervals throughout the neighborhood.
• Closely coordinating with first responders, city officials and third-party experts to keep the public informed and to support infrastructure enhancements.

Unfortunately, the neighborhood continues to experience significant new land movement damaging roads, homes and further threatening the safety of SoCalGas’ infrastructure. 

Due to the significant strain on SoCalGas’ infrastructure caused by recent land movement, natural gas service to 135 homes is being turned off in the Portuguese Bend community on July 29, 2024. 

SoCalGas will coordinate with the Portuguese Bend Homeowners Association to promptly deliver the assistance to customers. 

IMPORTANT SERVICE REMINDER
Due to worsening land movement, SoCalGas has determined it is unsafe to continue providing natural gas service to approximately 135 homes in the Portuguese Bend Community in Rancho Palos Verdes. 

Natural gas service to the area will be discontinued effective Monday, July 29, 2024, at approximately 9 a.m. 

We regret this unexpected disruption of service. This dynamic situation requires we take immediate action to protect public safety.  


SAFELY DISCONTINUING NATURAL GAS SERVICE

• At approximately 9am Monday, SoCalGas will operate a valve to safely turn off the natural gas network serving the Portuguese Bend community.
• On Monday, the natural gas remaining in the community’s pipeline network will be safely removed. Please note - it is possible residents may smell natural gas during this process.
• On Tuesday, SoCalGas technicians will visit each of the 135 impacted homes to safely turn off natural gas service at the meter.
• SoCalGas outreach teams will also continue to be available in the community. SoCalGas will have a community information booth at the corner of Fruit Tree Rd. Narcissa Drive Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.
• Please note: All SoCalGas employees on company business are required to carry a SoCalGas photo ID badge.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

• Please do not attempt to restore service or to connect alternative fuels like propane to your natural gas meter. Doing so is unsafe.
• We know you may have concerns, and we are here to assist you.
• For customer service inquiries, please contact us at 1-877-238-0092 or email us at projectinfo@socalgas.com.

Updated 7/28/2024

Due to worsening land movement, SoCalGas has determined it is unsafe to continue providing natural gas service in your community. Unfortunately, your natural gas service will be discontinued effective Monday, July 29, 2024, at approximately 9 a.m. We regret this unexpected disruption of service. This dynamic situation requires we take immediate action to protect public safety. 

SoCalGas technical and operating personnel, along with third party experts, have been closely monitoring land movement in the Portuguese Bend and other communities for several months. During that time, SoCalGas has worked diligently to continue safely serving the Portuguese Bend community. These efforts include: 
 

• Relocating more than 600 ft of pipeline to respond to significant land movement.
• Installing a new isolation valve that allows us to quickly shut off the community in the event of an emergency and new flexible pipeline joints that can accommodate some land movement.
• Accelerated leak inspections intervals throughout the neighborhood.
• Closely coordinating with first responders, city officials and third-party experts to keep the public informed and to support our infrastructure enhancements.

Unfortunately, the neighborhood continues to experience significant new land movement damaging roads, homes. and further threatening the safety of SoCalGas’ infrastructure. The significant strain on SoCalGas’ infrastructure caused by this recent land movement requires that we discontinue service at this time to protect the safety of the Portuguese Bend Community. 

If conditions change before Monday’s scheduled service disruption, SoCalGas will turn off natural gas earlier than planned. You will not be billed for gas service for the period when it’s unavailable to you. 

We will also continue to work with city and county leaders, first responders and others responding to the ongoing land movement. We will continue to evaluate our ability to safety serve you in the future. 

Please do not attempt to restore service or to connect alternative fuels like propane to your natural gas meter. Doing so is unsafe. We know you may have concerns, and we are here to assist you. 

For customer service inquiries, please contact us at 1-877-238-0092 or email us at projectinfo@socalgas.com.

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