Gas Pipeline Safety in North Carolina

Gas Infrastructure in North Carolina

North Carolina's gas distribution network is dominated by Piedmont Natural Gas (a Duke Energy subsidiary), which serves the rapidly growing Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham metros as well as communities across the Piedmont region and portions of the western and eastern parts of the state. The state has experienced explosive population growth in its urban cores over the past two decades, and Piedmont Natural Gas has had to aggressively expand its distribution network to serve new residential developments, commercial corridors, and industrial facilities that are transforming the Charlotte and Research Triangle areas. Natural gas serves as both the primary home heating fuel in cooler Piedmont and mountain communities and an important fuel for the state's growing data center and manufacturing sectors.

Key Risk Factors

The pace of new construction in the Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham metros is among the highest in the United States, creating persistent excavation damage risk as land is continuously graded, developed, and redeveloped in areas where existing gas infrastructure may not yet be fully mapped or where lot splits and parcel changes complicate utility records. North Carolina's Atlantic coast and coastal plain communities face hurricane exposure that can damage above-ground gas infrastructure, disrupt service, and drive emergency excavation and repair work that elevates accidental strike risk. The rapid buildout of gas service into new suburban areas means that newly installed infrastructure exists alongside older mains in transition zones where the age and condition of adjacent pipe can vary dramatically.

Incident Patterns

North Carolina has seen a pattern of excavation damage incidents tied to its construction boom, particularly in the suburban growth corridors around Charlotte, Cary, Durham, and Raleigh, where the volume of new development keeps ground disturbance activity at a persistently high level. Hurricane-related incidents have periodically affected eastern North Carolina communities, and the state's coastal plain geography means that storm surge and flooding can affect gas infrastructure in ways not seen in the Piedmont. You can explore all incidents in North Carolina on our site.

Regulatory Oversight

Gas distribution in North Carolina is regulated by the North Carolina Utilities Commission, which oversees pipeline safety standards and utility compliance for Piedmont Natural Gas and other distributors operating in the state. Before any digging in North Carolina, contact North Carolina 811 — call 811 or submit a locate request at least three business days before excavation to have buried gas lines and other utilities marked and avoid costly and dangerous accidental strikes.

Stay Safe

• Learn the signs of a gas leak
• Know what to do if you smell gas
• Understand how gas leak detectors work