National Grid Celebrates Natural Gas Utility Workers' Day

Company honors employees who maintain gas service for 1.3 Million New York customers

BROOKLYN/LONG ISLAND, NY - National Grid celebrates Natural Gas Utility Workers’ Day this week by honoring the thousands of employees who work to keep the gas flowing safely for 1.3 million customers in Metro New York and on Long Island. The company’s gas operations workers play a pivotal role in maintaining more than 12,000 miles of gas main across the region.

“Gas Operations employees at National Grid are among the best and brightest out there,” said Robert De Marinis, vice president of New York Gas Operations for National Grid. “They bring their best ideas to every situation, from regular maintenance to emergency response. They operate with the highest level of professionalism and they always have our customers’ needs in mind.”

The company is following the lead of the American Public Gas Association, who chose March 18 to recognize gas utility workers for its historical significance to safety in the industry. It is the date of the New London, Texas school explosion in 1937, which led to the widespread odorization of natural gas and an increased emphasis on gas safety overall.

“National Grid gas employees work each and every day to provide safe and reliable service for our customers,” De Marinis added. “These employees are often unsung heroes. They have difficult and complex jobs that are often carried out in the harshest weather conditions. They work tirelessly to serve our customers and we’re grateful for the dedication they exhibit every day.”

The company is also partnering with higher education and other utilities to create career opportunities in the natural gas industry:

• Natural Gas Technician Certificate Program -- in partnership with Farmingdale State College, a 12-week program of academic instruction and hands-on-learning provides an introduction to the gas industry, job tasks, work methods and safety practices utilized by various workforce positions in gas construction, maintenance and customer service. All 12 students in the pilot program were hired by National Grid and the program will now be replicated at other SUNY schools.
• N.Y. Troops to Energy Jobs Natural Gas Boot Camp -- with partners Jefferson Community College, Con Edison, Fort Drum Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program, and the Center for Energy Workforce Development. The boot camp is a six-week certificate program that provides workforce-ready training for soldiers exiting the military to support their transition to civilian life and work during the final months of their active duty service.

National Grid gas workers operate and maintain gas distribution systems across its New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island territories. These distribution systems safely and reliably deliver energy to consumers for their daily commercial and residential needs.