A couple years ago, I challenged PG&E to stop their “field” employees from telling folks what they must know isn’t true: they routinely advise people not to get an automatic gas shut-off valve because “a garbage truck going by will activate it.”
A fellow with PG&E government relations got in touch and reminded me that the company was “neutral” when it comes to automatic gas shut-off valves. When I told him that I heard over and over again that the company field employees were saying this, he was surprised and promised to bring the issue up with senior management.
If PG&E management got the message, they certainly haven’t done anything. I am still getting reports of this (untrue) warning – the last time being just a week ago.
I think it’s important that the facts are clear: all the automatic gas shut-off valves approved by the state are calibrated to activate at about 5.2 – 5.4 shaking. No truck, not even a tank, will activate them. Only serious earthquake shaking.
Larry checking seismic attachment of a house to its foundation.
And yes, we’re still installing the shut-off valves – we’ve done around 1,850 of them in the bay area over the past few years. Most standard installations cost $225 – $245.
https://quakeprepare.com/quakevalves/
QuakePrepare
Larry Guillot
707-965-3299
https://www.quakeprepare.com
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