In accordance with recent federal regulations, City of Tallahassee Gas Utility residential and commercial customers may request the installation of an excess flow valve (EFV) on an existing natural gas service line. 

An EFV is a safety device designed to significantly reduce the flow of natural gas in a service line that has been broken between the gas main and gas meter.  Because the EFV restricts the flow of gas, it reduces the potential for property damage or injury due to an uncontrolled release of natural gas.  Please note that such a device is not required for the normal, safe operation of your service line, but could help to mitigate the consequences of a severe service line failure.  However, an EFV is not designed to protect against minor gas leaks on the service line or gas meter, or any leak on customer piping inside a home or business.

The following illustration shows some typical causes of broken service lines, including excavation damage.  Remember – the best prevention against damaging your service line is to have all underground utility lines marked before digging.  This free service is available at Sunshine State One-Call by calling 811.

Residential and small commercial customers whose total appliance load is no greater than 1,000 cubic feet per hour (approximately 1,000,000 BTU per hour) may request the City of Tallahassee Gas Utility to install an EFV in their service line if one does not already exist.  Technical requirements such as pressure and volume must be evaluated to determine whether an EFV will properly function on a given service line.

Because the service line must be excavated to install an EFV, you will be charged $750 to cover the installation costs.  The Gas Utility will be responsible for replacement or maintenance costs after installation.

If you are interested in considering an EFV installation in the service line to your home or business, or would like more information, please contact the City of Tallahassee at 850-891-5112.  A Gas Utility representative will research the technical requirements of the EFV for your service line, answer questions you may have regarding EFVs, and can work with you to establish a mutually agreeable date for installation.