Whittier-Area Gas Service Update

September 3, 2026, 12:00 PM Update

WHITTIER NATURAL GAS SERVICE UPDATE

ENSTAR crews continue making progress on the emergency repair of the 8-inch natural gas pipeline serving Whittier beneath the Twentymile River.
 
The work has required significant coordination. Crews relocated specialized drilling equipment and materials from a South Anchorage project, built temporary access routes and work platforms, and are installing two new bore crossings beneath the river. The first bore has been tied in and backfilled, with purging and system testing underway. Work is progressing on the second crossing.
 
We appreciate the federal and state agencies that worked with ENSTAR to help permit this emergency work quickly and safely. We also thank our contractors and ENSTAR employees from Anchorage and the Northern Division for their work on the response.
 
Thank you to Whittier residents, businesses and visitors for your patience and understanding as this complex repair continues. Weather, tides, site access and the technical requirements of drilling beneath the river all affect the work.
 
Crews are working toward completing the repair and returning natural gas service to Whittier. ENSTAR’s temporary LNG system will continue serving Whittier in the meantime.
 
We will share another update as work progresses.

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August 24, 2026, 4:30 PM Update

WHITTIER NATURAL GAS SERVICE UPDATE

Less than one week after the Twentymile River pipeline ruptured, natural gas service was restored to Whittier. Getting there took an extraordinary amount of coordination.

While crews began preparing for the permanent pipeline repair, teams across ENSTAR worked simultaneously to establish a temporary natural gas supply and safely restore service to the community.

Specialized LNG equipment was secured in Canada and mobilized nearly 2,000 miles to Alaska, arriving Friday, August 21. At the same time, crews prepared the ENSTAR system to receive the temporary supply, coordinated permitting and logistics, and worked through the unique access challenges of the Twentymile River area.

By 6 p.m. Friday, the system had been safely pressurized and purged and ENSTAR service technicians were ready to begin reconnecting customers. Begich Towers was back in service before 6:30 p.m.

Restoring natural gas requires technicians to visit each customer individually, unlock the meter, safely restore service and relight natural gas appliances. Crews continued that work Friday night and throughout Saturday. By 9 p.m. Saturday, August 22, all available Whittier customers had been reconnected, with one customer by request reconnected on Sunday evening.

This response has required coordination across operations, engineering, service, transportation, permitting and many others, along with tremendous support from the City of Whittier and our local, state and federal partners.

The permanent repair work is not finished. Crews are continuing the permanent repair of the Twentymile River pipeline, including overcoming significant terrain and access challenges to safely reach the work area.

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August 21, 2026, 12:00 PM Update

WHITTIER NATURAL GAS SERVICE UPDATE

An ISO container carrying LNG and a vaporizer trailer crossed the U.S.-Canada border last night and are en route to Portage today. If staging and system preparation proceed as expected, ENSTAR could begin reconnecting customers as early as tonight but no sooner than 6pm. In the meantime, we want to pass along important information about this process:

  1. Before we can restore meters and appliances, the system serving Whittier must be reenergized by sufficiently pressurizing the pipeline. This could take several hours after the equipment is staged.
  2. Once the system is reenergized, ENSTAR service technicians must manually turn on each meter and enter each residence or building to confirm safe operation and relight natural gas appliances. The reconnection process will continue around the clock until completion.
  3. ENSTAR will call customers as technicians become available for reconnection. Crews will continue working into the night and customers are encouraged to be available for late-night reconnections, if possible. Please keep your phone nearby and make sure technicians can safely access all natural gas appliances. Please also ensure the property is safe for technician access by securing dogs and other pets and clearing tripping hazards or other obstructions. A typical reconnection is expected to take approximately 30 minutes but may take longer depending on the number, type, and accessibility of appliances.
  4. If ENSTAR is unable to make contact with a customer to gain access to a premise served by natural gas, technicians will leave a door hanger with contact information. You can arrange reconnection at a time that is convenient by calling 1-877-907-9767. Dispatch is available 24/7 to send a technician when you are available.
  5. Do not attempt to unlock meters or relight appliances. For your safety, this can only be performed by a licensed and qualified ENSTAR service technician.

If you have questions, please contact ENSTAR at 907-334-7760.

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August 19, 2026, 4:30 PM Update

WHITTIER NATURAL GAS SERVICE UPDATE

ENSTAR continues to work towards gas restoration, and requests that all gas account holders call ENSTAR Marketing at 907-334-7770 during regular business hours from 07:30 to 16:30 to verify contact information is current.

Alternatively, customers can email ENSTAR Marketing at marketing@enstarnaturalgas.com to provide updated information.

Please include your ENSTAR customer account number, entity name, and/or meter number when providing new information via phone or email.

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August 18, 2026, 6:30 PM Update

WHITTIER NATURAL GAS SERVICE UPDATE

ENSTAR continues its efforts to restore gas service to Whittier following the Twentymile River pipeline rupture on August 16, 2026. We appreciate the support from our federal, state, and local officials during this emergency response.
 
ENSTAR secured an LNG source that is currently en route to serve Whittier.
 
We expect to have a better estimate of timing and an updated schedule by Friday, August 21.

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August 16, 2026, 8:30 PM Update 

NOTICE OF PIPELINE SHUT-OFF AFFECTING WHITTIER CUSTOMERS 

Since the initial report on August 9th, ENSTAR has been closely monitoring a section of an 8” natural gas pipeline serving Whitter.  The portion of the pipeline that crosses the Twentymile River further deteriorated this evening around 8 pm, requiring immediate action to shut off the flow of gas.  

ENSTAR service technicians are enroute to Whittier to begin turning off meters tonight (August 16).  This is a standard procedure in response to this type of situation.  

We continue to work to secure emergency gas for Whittier until the pipeline is fully repaired.  At this point we expect the outage to last until September 5.  Whittier customers should be prepared to be without natural gas-fueled appliances until that time.   

We will continue to update customers as more information becomes available. 

Whittier customers may call ENSTAR at 907-334-7770 with questions. 

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August 10, 2026

Important Natural Gas Service Update for Whittier-Area Customers 

ENSTAR is closely monitoring a section of the natural gas pipeline near the Twentymile River that serves customers east of the river, including Whittier. Our Engineering and Operations teams have confirmed a break in the submerged portion of the pipeline and are actively evaluating repair options. 

Natural gas service remains available at this time. However, conditions at the river could change, and service may need to be temporarily interrupted while repairs are completed. We are in the process of securing LNG that will be trucked from Fairbanks and regasified into the system to serve Whittier customers. Service may be interrupted periodically as we work to repair the line over the next 30-45 days. We will do our best to anticipate these outages and proactively communicate with Whittier residents

If service is interrupted, natural gas appliances will not operate, including furnaces, water heaters, clothes dryers, stoves, ovens, and fireplaces. 

What you can do now 

Customers are encouraged to prepare in case natural gas service is temporarily unavailable: 

  • Identify a safe, warm place to stay if your home cannot maintain a safe temperature. Keep warm clothing, blankets, medications, food, pet supplies and other essentials available. 
  • Make alternate plans if someone in your household has medical or accessibility needs that could be affected by a loss of heat or hot water. 
  • Make sure your contact information with ENSTAR is current to receive important updates. 

ENSTAR is preparing the temporary LNG supply and developing a permanent repair for the affected pipeline. The repair will require construction of a new bore crossing beneath the Twentymile River and is expected to take approximately 30-45 days.

If you smell a sustained odor of natural gas or suspect a gas leak, leave the area immediately and call 1-844-SMELL GAS (1-844-763-5542) from a safe location. 

We appreciate your patience as our crews work to address this situation safely. 

View our official announcement here. 

 

Updated 8/18/2026 

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