10 January . 2014
Sweetwater drives natural gas to western Travis County
Texas Gas Service has just completed a 2 1/2 year process to extend their natural gas pipeline out to western Travis County and Sweetwater was the driving force behind this extension. Until now, centralized propane systems or individual residential tanks were the only options available to new communities in this area of Travis County. Sweetwater approached Texas Gas Service in mid-2011 to explore extending natural gas service approximately 10 miles to our community. Initially the answer was no, but Sweetwater pursued, and the potential for 1,600 new customers was enough incentive for Texas Gas to undertake this expensive and time-consuming process.
In early 2012, Texas Gas installed temporary natural gas tanks in Sweetwater so that the first residents would have uninterrupted gas service and no expensive conversion from temporary propane to permanent natural gas. Pipeline construction began in early 2013 and permanent service to Sweetwater was completed in early January 2014.
Sweetwater residents benefit from having a stable natural gas supply with a regulated cost structure - the same rates that apply across unincorporated areas of Travis County such as the Steiner Ranch community. This means significant savings compared to communities with centralized propane systems.