Gas Department Manager Pam Daigle is asking residents needing their gas meters unsealed for the winter to not wait until winter is here.

Less than 100 customers currently take advantage of “summer seal”. While that’s no a large number, it is cumbersome if everyone wants the gas turned back on the same day.

City customers who have no need for gas other than heating (no water tank, no stove) can have a final reading taken and their meter sealed as cold weather gives way to mild and warm in the spring.

Doing so allows them to avoid paying the $7.20 monthly minimum in months when they are using no gas at all.

When temperatures conducive to home heating return or are approaching, the customers have the “summer seal” broken and service restored, for a charge of $25.

A customer who seals in March and reconnects in November would save $32.60 over the eight months.