Natural gas doesn’t typically freeze, and a frozen natural gas meter is extremely rare, although it can happen when moisture is able to breach the seal.

That’s according to SaskEnergy spokesperson, Brian Miller. Our newsroom contacted the Crown energy company after we received calls from two different people in one day saying their meters had frozen in the cold snap, they had been without heat, and had to have the meters replaced.  One caller said the SaskEnergy technician came with a meter because he’d been to a number of calls where the meter had frozen.

Miller checked the records, and says there was one frozen meter in the Saskatoon area during the cold spell, but he didn’t have the information for the rest of the province.

Miller says another possibility, although also rare, is a customer may have their service interrupted by a “stopped” meter, which isn’t frozen, but needs to be repaired or replaced.

To make sure no moisture gets into your meter, Miller advises to keep them free of snow and ice, and that includes the regulator and shut off valve.  It’s especially important in freeze-thaw weather, because leaky eavestroughs or melting snow from the roof can drip on the meter and cause it to ice up.  He says you can clean your natural gas meter with a soft brush or broom, or with your hand, but don’t use any tools, like a shovel, and no chemical de-icer.

SaskEnergy also asks customers to avoid using a snowblower or snowplow near the meter and to not let snow pile up around it.  If your furnace isn’t putting out any heat and your home is cooling down, it’s time to call SaskEnergy’s emergency line. Miller says a technician will come out to diagnose the problem and to fix the issue.
SaskEnergy: 1-888-7000GAS (1-888-700-0427)