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Welcome to Rhode Island Energy’s Tips of the Trade for first responders. These tips are intended to help you respond safely and effectively to incidents involving natural gas and electricity. Please review them with your team.
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| Help us protect Rhode Island Energy rights-of-way |
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| Rhode Island Energy’s utility lines transport electricity and natural gas throughout our service area and your jurisdiction. These power lines and pipelines are protected by rights-of-way (ROWs), corridors of land of varying dimensions along each side of the lines. |
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| To order our FREE safety kit, visit the Rhode Island Energy e‑SMARTresponders website. |
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| We always need free and clear access to our ROWs, and so do you. We need access for inspections and maintenance activities so that we can ensure the safe and reliable operation of critical energy lines. You need access to respond to any emergencies occurring in the ROW. Help us protect our access by being aware of Rhode Island Energy ROWs and knowing the location of gas pipelines in your jurisdiction. |
| How you can help |
| Damage to overhead or underground transmission power lines can lead to extensive power outages, fires, and electrical shock injuries or deaths. Damage to our natural gas pipelines can cause dangerous gas leaks that have the potential to ignite or explode. You can help by being alert to unauthorized activities in the Rhode Island Energy ROWs in your community. Watch for: |
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Downed or low hanging transmission power line. Stay at least 100 feet away and report it to Rhode Island Energy. |
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Construction activities or obstructions. Developers, contractors and homeowners must have permission from Rhode Island Energy for construction or grading activities within a ROW easement, including erecting fences; installing drains, ditches, wells or irrigation lines; establishing vehicle crossings; changing the elevation or grade; and pile driving or drilling. All of these activities can damage buried utility lines and may require special precautions, utility oversight and/or additional permits from municipalities. |
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If you see construction or excavation occurring near a natural gas pipeline marker or in a Rhode Island Energy ROW with no utility personnel present, please call us to report it. These activities can damage buried lines and may block access for our personnel or for safety crews in the event of an emergency. |
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Trees or other vegetation planted within our ROWs. Trees can grow into power lines and/or interfere with fire safety, facility maintenance and leak detection activities. |
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Suspicious activity near a pipeline marker. If you observe unusual activity that concerns you, call the number on the marker to report it immediately. |
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| Pipeline ROW locations are usually marked on maps filed with local municipalities. In addition, natural gas pipeline ROWs are typically indicated by high‑visibility markers with the pipeline operator's name and 24‑hour emergency phone number. These markers are usually freestanding; in urban areas, they may also be found on utility poles. For security reasons, they do not mark the exact location of natural gas pipelines. |
| Rhode Island Energy does not own natural gas transmission pipelines. However, you can determine the general location of gas transmission pipelines in your area by registering with the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS). State and local government officials (including first responders) may apply for access to more specific pipeline location information on the NPMS website. |
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