Black Hills Energy: Odorant Release Prompting Emergency Calls

Black Hills Energy is fielding calls from people about the smell of natural gas after an excess of the chemical causing the odor used in the gas was released into the system.

That's according to a news release from the utility. The release says the excess odorant was released into the south Cheyenne border station.

The Smell Is Actually Mercaptan

The odorant, mercaptan, smells like rotten eggs and is to natural gas to alert people about natural gas leaks. Natural gas itself is odorless, so people tend to associate the rotten egg smell with a gas leak, prompting calls from people thinking there is a natural gas emergency.

The smell is not from an actual gas leak.

Black Hills Energy spokeswoman Laurie Farkas says local emergency dispatchers know about the issue.

But just as a reminder, she offered the following safety tips:

Be alert for leaking natural gas. If you smell natural gas, leave the building or area immediately and tell others to leave, too.

• After you’re safely away from the area, call 911 and our emergency number at 888-890-5554. Never assume someone else has reported a natural gas leak. Alert your neighbors.

• Do not turn on lights, ignite a flame, use a cell phone, or use anything that might cause a spark, including a flashlight or a generator.